LEARNERS AS LEADERS
MOMENTUM MAGAZINE
Meet three learners who are leading lights in their fields
Iain Sander
Mackenzie Coatham
Danielle Clark
UALBERTA’S FIRST PHD IN OB/GYN
HYGIENE AWARD WINNER
at Queen’s University, Sander
RECRUITED THROUGH THE
DANIELLE CLARK, RDH, BSc DH, is
co-designed a device for swimmers
graduate program in Maternal
the first Canadian student to win
with disabilities. But it was
and Child Health (MatCH),
the American Dental Education
coaching Special Olympians that
Mackenzie Coatham is an
Association (ADEA) Crest
ignited his interest in medicine.
award-winning endometrial
Oral-B Scholarship for Dental
cancer researcher and the first
Hygiene Students Pursuing
As a 2018 Rhodes Scholar at Oxford
PhD student in obstetrics
Academic Careers Award.
University, Sander will study
and gynecology at University
orthopedic biomechanics and
of Alberta.
MD STUDENT AND RHODES SCHOLAR
MSC STUDENT AND DENTAL
AS AN ENGINEERING undergrad
dental hygiene at the U of A
seeking root causes of mobility-
Coatham is passionate about
School of Dentistry’s Oral
related disorders. After his two-year
the importance of basic science
Health Clinic and is a clinical
sojourn, he will finish medical school
research in advancing women’s
instructor within the division of
at the University of Alberta and
health. Her biochemistry
periodontology. Her research,
hopes to specialize in physiatry.
background makes her a valuable
focused on the role of loricrin
asset in Cancer Research Institute
(a protein) in aggressive
“WHEN PEOPLE SAY,
of Northern Alberta (CRINA)
periodontal disease, has her
‘WHAT DO YOU WANT TO
co-director Lynne Postovit’s lab
publishing in leading peer-
and she volunteers monthly to help
reviewed journals, attending
curate the CRINA e-newsletter.
conferences and lecturing
DO 10 YEARS FROM NOW?’ I SAY, ‘I’LL STILL BE IN SCHOOL.’ “
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Currently, she is practising
around the world. “As scientists, I think it is important for us to be accountable
“More work needs to be done
“When people say, ‘What do you
to society and disseminate our
in terms of knowledge
want to do 10 years from now?’ I
findings to our fellow researchers
translation in order to see
say, ‘I’ll still be in school.’ But that’s
so that the entire field can keep
high-risk populations get the
OK. I love it.”
progressing,” said Coatham.
care they need.”
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
PHOTOS BY: JEANETTE SESAY AND MELISSA FABRIZIO
examine the musculoskeletal system,
