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News & Notes
Hannah MacDonald: 2022 Dr. D. C. Precious University Medal in Dentistry
Hannah MacDonald (DDS’22) was this year’s recipient of the Dr. D.S. Precious University Medal in Dentistry. She also graduated with distinction, the highest academic standing in her class, and four additional awards.
Hannah credits her interest in dentistry to her hobby of horseback riding. “I grew up in the horse barn,” she says, “where I often found myself surrounded by many hard-working professionals from a variety of careers, including Susan Bourque (DDS’07, MSc’13) and Caitlin Fraser (DDS’15). They became my mentors and they strongly influenced my decision to go into dentistry.”
Hannah received numerous awards during her four years of dental school. The university medal is special, though. She says that it has “given me more confidence and the sense that I have earned my place in this demanding profession”. She joined Caitlin Fraser’s practice in the summer and will work at both the Westmount dental office and a new, second office on the Eskasoni Indigenous reserve.
PHOTO LIFETOUCH STUDIOS ABRIEL DANNY PHOTO
Dr. Tanya Cook wins W. W. Wood Award and takes on new role
Dr. Tanya Cook has had a big year. She has accepted the role of chair of the Dental Clinical Sciences Department for a five-year renewable term. She was also this year’s deserving recipient of the W.W. Wood Award for Excellence in Dental Education.
In addition, Dr. Cook is the division head of comprehensive care and the chair of the EDIA and Dentistry Academic Policy committees. She is an NDEB examiner, serves as the Dalhousie representative on the ADEA Council of Faculties, and works in private practice as a prosthodontist.
During her time with our Faculty, Dr. Cook has won numerous awards and accolades, served on many committees, and gained the admiration of both her colleagues and her students for her leadership, work ethic, kindness, professionalism and knowledge, willingness to help, and her great dedication to student learning and patient care.
Ellie Wedlake
Ellie Wedlake (DDS4) received the Dr. Eric Hatfield Active Participation Award from the NSDA in June.
The Impact Award recognizes students for their academic excellence and their achievements outside the classroom. For Heba Al-Ameri, this year’s Faculty of Dentistry Impact Award winner, life inside and outside the classroom are closely linked, with her volunteer activities revolving around dentistry and health care, particularly for underserved populations.
Her concern for these populations is partly shaped by her own early life. Heba’s family is from Yemen, a country that has been in the throes of civil war for several years. They moved to Bedford when Heba was 17.
On Monday evenings during term time, Heba can be found in the Faculty’s Government Assisted Populations (GAP) Clinic where she works as the volunteer coordinator, scheduling students with patients and trying to match them according to language. She also steps in to translate when needed.
“I know how hard it is to go somewhere and not understand what is happening,” she says. “Nothing is familiar. So I try to build a connection, even if it’s just saying ‘hi’ at each clinic.”
Outside the Dentistry Building, Heba has spent a lot of time volunteering with an NSHA outreach program to provide door-to-door COVID-19 testing, visiting public housing apartments, shelters, hotels, and drop-in spaces to carry out testing.
Heba is looking forward to taking the public health elective in her fourth year of studies, which will give her hands-on experience with the populations she wants to help.
PEARCE NICK PHOTO
ABRIEL DANNY PHOTO
Dr. Ben Davis, dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, received the Distinguished Service Award from the Canadian Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons at the annual conference in July.
In his recorded message to the conference, which he could not attend in person, he acknowledged the guidance and support of many people.
“I’ve worked with some of the giants in Canadian maxillofacial surgery,” he said, “including my mentor David Precious and colleagues Reg Goodday and Archie Morrison. They took a chance on me and opened a door that allowed me to begin a career at Dalhousie.”
CRC candidate Dr. Vahid Adibnia joins our Faculty
Dr. Vahid Adibnia is the successful candidate for the Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Functional Polymeric Biomaterials. He joined the Department of Applied Oral Sciences in July and will submit an application to the CRC Secretariat this fall.
Dr. Adibnia plans to establish a program of research focused on biosourcing and bioinspired materials design aimed at addressing several important clinical areas, such as lubrication in managing osteoarthritis; wound healing challenges, such as hemorrhaging and the need for better tissue adhesives; and antifouling strategies to prevent microbial infections.
He holds a PhD from McGill University, with postdoctoral research experience in pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, and biomedical engineering at the University of Montreal and the University of Toronto. Welcome, Dr. Adibnia!
Golden Scaler Award winners
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Chantel Haslam (DDH’22) and Kurtis Moult (DDH’22) received Hu-Friedy Golden Scaler awards for proficiency in clinical dental hygiene at the dental hygiene graduation banquet in May.
Dr. Sachin Seth wins 2022 ACFD National Teaching Award
Dr. Sachin Seth, the Faculty of Dentistry’s associate dean of academics, is the 2022 recipient of the Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry National Teaching Award for 2022. He was presented with the award on June 17 at the ACFD conference dinner in Edmonton.
Nominees for the ACFD National Teaching Award are assessed on their knowledge of the theory of teaching and learning, their involvement of students in the learning process, their ability to stimulate students to reach set performance standards for the course, an ability to communicate effectively, the rapport they develop with students, and the use of evaluation methods that assess higher levels of learning.
The ACFD National Teaching Award is a tribute to Dr. Seth’s many contributions to teaching, leadership, and dental education in our Faculty and in the wider dental profession.
