Monique: McGill gave me an excellent scientific education, which was invaluable in my training in dentistry and my specialty in periodontology. It made advanced learning easy. It also broadened my mind through my chosen electives in sociology, psychology, and French literature. It made me appreciate the complexity of social issues and the need to critically evaluate sources of information. Prior to #MeToo, Black Lives Matter and the problems our Indigenous communities face, my university education helped me understand that humans need and deserve a safe and secure society and equal rights independent of race, sexual orientation, age, or gender. Finally, McGill allowed me to meet students from varied backgrounds and cultures, which greatly helped my curiosity in things that are different and fostered a perpetual interest in learning. It influenced my role as a parent, as a member of my profession and as a member of my community.
Stephen: I thoroughly enjoyed being a student, hence the three degrees from McGill and one from Dalhousie. I loved university life, the people I met and the experiences to which I was exposed. In the sixties, student activism was high, and these paradigm shifts were occurring in all facets of life. I met students from all walks of life – students from different countries and cultures. I believe I am more open-minded, more tolerant, and more interested in trying something new because of my years at McGill. I believe I think more critically but without preconceptions. I truly feel that I received an education at McGill that I would not have received had I been at another university. McGill’s culture was to have students from around the world, to accept students questioning “the system”, to encourage independent critical thought not the “party line”, and to have the opportunity to be exposed to the world from many different points of view.
Monique: I used to be a phobic dental patient but met a very caring dentist who, with great patience, helped me overcome my fear of dentistry. I first encouraged my husband to apply as I believed he was suited for the profession. I was in the Pharmacy program at UdeM but became disillusioned when I started my internship. As we were married by then, I became familiar with the courses Steve was taking. I fell in love with the subjects and finally applied to the Faculty of Dentistry. One of the happiest days of my life was being accepted because I truly enjoyed my career – it was my dream.
Stephen: I am so grateful that my wife encouraged me to apply to dental school. I had completed my Master of Science but was not interested in research and really did not have a definite objective for my life. It was entirely at my wife’s suggestion and encouragement that I am a dentist today, and I have only her to thank for it because it is an extremely satisfying career. I can only assume that she knew me better than I knew myself because dentistry satisfied my desire to be a health professional, interact with patients and try to make their lives better, and to apply my enjoyment of working with my hands. You see the immediate results of your efforts and working for yourself rather than having to work for someone else as well as its financial benefits, all form part of the immensely rewarding nature of this profession.
Monique: Dentistry made me happy because it was my vocation. I kept my practice small enough to give my patients the attention they needed to keep them healthy. In our profession, prevention works, and my efforts were focused on this element. I enjoyed staying current through continuing education. Dentistry can be physically demanding, so I made staying physically healthy an important part of my day. Balancing my work with the needs of my family and my personal goals helped me greatly in safeguarding my passion for dentistry. My advice to current and future dentistry students would be to be passionate about your profession and protect it by practicing the highest standards. Don’t worry about the competition and focus on delivering the best care. Finally, share your knowledge with others through dental education, and be an example for people around you.
Stephen: I believe our profession needs a reset – in our desires to not disadvantage anyone, there are very few constraints being imposed on the distribution of dentists throughout our population. As a result, especially in the urban centres of Canada, there appears to be an overemphasis on intense competition and not enough of a camaraderie between practitioners. A more active dental society participation as well as more volunteerism is needed for the future of our profession. I believe that the trust and confidence that a dentist conveys is primordial, and you must treat your patients the way you would like to be treated if you were the patient. Do what your patients need, and you will always stand in good stead. I believe if you follow these tenets, you will succeed and have a very satisfying career.