McGill helped me become who I am now. Besides learning the basics of my profession, there were endless opportunities for me to meet new people through sports, clubs and events. Giving back to the University as a volunteer energizes me. It’s a chance to face new situations that go beyond my comfort zone and use my skills to lift others up.
I also like to give back to the McGill community because I grew so much during my time as a student. This is partly because of teachers who took extra time to get to know me and give me advice. Even after I finished dental school, I continued to receive mentorship from some of my professors. They helped me navigate the early stages of my career, and I want to be able to do the same for others.
I've gained expertise along my career path, like special care dentistry techniques, and I want to pass on my knowledge to others and show dental students what's possible. When I teach the dental residents at the Montreal General Hospital, or the upper-year undergrad students, I try to convey to them that their career can be a mix of private practice and hospital/public health dental care. I think it’s important for them to see different career paths so they can have the courage to build the career that fits them. This is part of why mentorship is so important to the future generation of graduates.
Recently, a student who was on rotation with me a couple months ago came up to me with a sparkle in her eye and excitement in her voice. She told me that she saw a patient with autism for an emergency procedure and used a technique that she had seen me use, and it helped the patient be more comfortable. She was so proud to be able to use the technique herself and glad that the patient’s mother was happy about how smoothly the visit went. I was pleasantly surprised to see the domino effect that can occur when students have a chance to observe in a clinical setting.