Mel: We both applied to the Faculty of Dentistry at McGill in 1973. During the application process, we were scheduled to be interviewed on the same day, just 15 minutes apart. On the day of the interview, I passed by the door to the conference room where the interviews were being conducted and heard a voice from inside the room saying, “Come in”. My brother Len was still being interviewed, and Dr. Donald Henry, chairman of the admissions committee, said to me: “We've been waiting for you. We can't tell you apart on paper, so we’ve decided to interview you both together!” At the end of the interview, Dr. Henry told me, “By the way, I’m a twin as well”, which was interesting. We pretty much got the sense that the committee was going to either accept both of us or neither of us, and the good news is they took both of us.
Len: Our older brother was a McGill graduate. For us, McGill was a pinnacle of higher education. My mother always spoke about McGill men the same way that people spoke about Harvard men. It was expected in our family that we would go to McGill. My mom would always boast that her sons were McGill men. The day we graduated, there was a ceremony on campus, and the graduates and faculty were wearing their gowns. My mom was with us at the time, and she saw some students were going over to talk to Dean Ernie Ambrose. She took me in one arm and Mel in the other and pulled us towards Dean Ambrose. I said, “Mom, that's the Dean! You can't just go up to the Dean!” She said, “You can come with me.” She went up to Dean Ambrose and announced: “These are my boys, and I'm very proud of them.” And Dean Ambrose replied, “I'm proud of them, too”.
Mel: After completing a dental residency program at Saint Mary's Hospital, I joined the McGill Faculty of Dentistry teaching undergraduates as well as graduates in the residency training program. Later on, I moved to the Department of Dentistry at the Jewish General Hospital. McGill has been an important part of my life since I was 19 years old and throughout my career.
Len: I became interested in dentistry because my older brother was studying biological sciences, and one day I started to look through his human physiology textbook. The mystery of how the different organ systems function intrigued me, so I decided I would like a career in medicine or dentistry. I knew I wanted to work with people, and I wanted to do something with my hands. In our early teens, our family dentist, a McGill graduate, allowed us to watch him as he was working, and I enjoyed that. I said to myself, “I could do that”. And so, dentistry became an appealing option.
Mel: I wanted a career where I could be independent, which was very important to me. My Dad had always worked very hard in manufacturing and stressed the value of education. He did not have the opportunity to pursue higher education despite his ability. I was also a very hands-on type of person. The rewards in dentistry are immediate: when you do something well, you see it. There's a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction that comes from doing a job well. My practice is hospital-based and working with people with medical issues is also a very stimulating and gratifying experience.
One of my greatest pleasures is the ability to make my own decisions about my style of practice. If I choose to spend an hour with a patient, where 20 minutes will be conversation, then I do so. My advice to students is that they should understand the opportunities and challenges that a career in dentistry offers. It's a tremendously rewarding profession. You're constantly learning and being introduced to new technologies, so you must be able to adapt. I think if you're genuinely interested in intricate, fine work, you'll enjoy dentistry. Secondly, I would say recognize that there are many mentors available. I think mentorship is very important. That is something I enjoy very much today. Finally, the rapport you establish with people is so important. The ability to transmit genuine concern and caring for another person’s well-being is something that is recognized and truly appreciated by patients.
Len: I have spent my career in the private sector, and I think it's important that students understand what challenges lie ahead for them. In my opinion, it's unlikely that a solo practitioner will still be a viable entity in the marketplace moving forward. Solo practitioners were the norm in the past. Today, the trend is growing towards group practices. I would encourage people to join the profession and try to get as much of an understanding of what the opportunities are, and what their work environment might be in the future. I still practice three to four days a week. I continue to be stimulated and motivated by new surgical techniques and the enjoyment of working with patients and my professional colleagues.
When I first went to the United States for postgraduate studies, I was a little concerned about how well the training that I had received at McGill had prepared me for graduate studies. It didn’t take long to recognize that I had more than adequate background compared to my American and European colleagues. I am forever grateful to McGill for the opportunities it has given me.