Next Gen of the Month is a monthly Q&A with a dental student or new dentist where we ask them about their experiences and accomplishments thus far in their dentistry journey.
Why did you decide to pursue dentistry?
I found my way into dentistry from a place of need – I was a four-year-old child with a mouth full of decayed teeth and a long dental journey ahead of her. My parents immigrated to Canada from China shortly before I was born, with little to no education about the importance of oral health care and how bad things could get (and how quickly!). Aside from that, I also sought out orthodontic treatment at the University of Alberta’s Orthodontics Program where they completely transformed my smile and I felt like an active participant throughout my treatment – overhearing resident-instructor conversations and asking questions.
I have always had very positive experiences and felt very grateful for the dental professionals in my life, so I decided in late high school that I wanted to pursue dentistry as a career. So far, I have not looked back on that decision once. Since starting dental school and gaining more exposure to the field every single day, I am greatly looking forward to the life-long learning and a rewarding career ahead.
Favourite and least favourite course to take so far?
Favourite course: Restorative. As someone who wants to be a general practitioner, everything I learn in that course feels very relevant and applicable to me. The content teaches us step-by-step how to do things, the theory behind doing things, and special considerations for each procedure. Learning the material feels very practical and helps us understand our bread-and-butter work. Studying for it has never felt like a chore!
Least favourite course: Probably histology. I can appreciate the oral medicine & pathology aspect to the course (which I can understand the relevance for!), but in 1st and 2nd year it always felt like – “Why am I looking at all these slides of a kidney under a microscope?!” There was always a lot to memorize for our histology-related courses. Nevertheless, I learned a lot.
Who’s your biggest inspiration?
My sister Celine. I have a sister who’s 10 years older than me, and although I never really grew up with her, I’ve always looked up to her. She was a first-generation doctor in our family and lived in 3 different countries and 5 different cities through immigration by the time she was 18. She has always been relentless in the pursuit of what she wanted and very dedicated throughout her education and career. She is now living in Pittsburgh, PA, in the United States as a rheumatologist and had her first-born child last January! My niece will be turning one soon.
What do you like to do for fun?
First of all, I have to say that Toronto has a lot to offer as a city. There is always something to do here, especially things that fall into my category of fun. I love fitness, whether that be moving your body through sport, hitting the gym, or going to a workout class. I’ve stayed involved in intramural sports throughout dental school (mostly volleyball, newly ultimate frisbee – I’m not very good at it) and maintain a membership at Goodlife Fitness. I am a huge fan of Toronto’s workout class selection – I frequent Sweat & Tonic often and love F45 and Barry’s as well. I am also a huge self-proclaimed foodie. I have loved trying as many restaurants here as I can, although it’s not very good for the bank account. Other than that, being with friends really fills my cup! Whenever we have extra free time, I’ll be the first to call up my friends and find something to do.
Favourite dental accounts to follow?
@dentistrybykristina – my partner-in-crime through dental school, I love keeping up with her new grad dentist life.
@joycethedentist – always up to date with the latest dental news, trends (whether dental or lifestyle!) and very entertaining to keep up with.
@profmarkusblatz – shares a ton of clinical tips and pearls! You might not even need CE after a quick scroll through his page – just kidding.
@therealtoothdr2.0 and @oralsurgeryguy – Watching their content is equivalent to shadowing in the OR – I’m convinced. Endless videos of really cool surgeries.
What are your hopes for post-graduation life?
After graduating, I plan to work as a general dentist in private practice. I hope to learn and gain as much experience as much as I can in my first couple of years – I have heard that the transition as a new graduate can be a steep one. I want to do as much as I can and figure out what things I like and things I might not like. I haven’t narrowed down where I would like to work yet, but I am thinking of staying around Ontario for at least a couple of years. In the long-term, I would love to end up on the west-coast to be near the mountains and ocean, whether that be in Canada or the US. Time will tell!
Can you tell us about your experience as Co-President of UofT Cosmetics Club?
Absolutely! I am co-president of the University of Toronto’s Cosmetics Club alongside my good friend, Justin Aoun. It was actually a club that my friend Kristina Carnogursky (you might know her as @dentistrybykristina) started a couple of years ago, after realizing the relative lack of emphasis and education on cosmetic aspects of dentistry. We are taught the indications for certain restorations, and the science behind bonding, yet rarely are we taught how to make things look aesthetically pleasing. However, that is a major factor for patients in the real world. With the Cosmetics Club, we host events inviting Toronto’s top dentists, specialists, and speakers or visit cutting edge facilities to allow students to gain exposure and insight into relevant technologies and techniques. Additionally, it provides an opportunity for students to network, connect with like-minded individuals, and see what’s possible beyond dental school in the field of cosmetic dentistry. It has been really rewarding to see our events come to life and to bring the talented pool of clinicians that exists in Toronto just a little bit closer to the students.
Find her at: @claradentistry on Instagram!
