By Samantha Ashenhurst
NSDA Communications Manager

1. Why did you pursue dentistry?

Originally, I was on my way to being a chemistry teacher — I love teaching people new things, and chemistry would let me do it with a bang! I was a dentophobic kid and hated lying down in the chair until I saw a Dr. MacLeod in Corner Brook, who was the first to talk and teach my way through a filling. I thought, “maybe I could make a difference with scared patients like me….” I shifted into dental school pre-requisites that fall semester.

2. What is a skill you’ve always wanted to learn?

I’ve always wanted to speak Spanish. It’s on my list of things to do when life gives me some spare time.

3. What’s your top destination in Nova Scotia?

Glenora Inn and Distillery in Cape Breton — amazing food, beautiful scenery, and, of course, great whisky. Plus, it’s just a few minutes away from Cabot Links Golf.

4. Who was your favourite or most inspiring teacher at dental school?

I’ve had a few great teachers at dental school. Dr. Doug Chaytor challenged me weekly on prosth and computers, while Dr. Frank Lovely was, to wit, lovely to everyone around him and a treat to watch perform oral surgery. But I’d have to say that Dr. Bill MacInnis made one of the biggest impacts on me. I wasn’t always this self-assured, and a combination of anxiety and lack of self-esteem would wreak havoc when I was younger. Bill never let me get away with anything easy, or let me avoid situations that would challenge both my skills and my character. It truly made a difference in the way I approached a patient and delivered treatment.

5. What is one piece of advice that’s stuck with you over time?

When I removed an upper premolar on a young patient in fourth year, I was concerned because she left crying. Her assurances that I didn’t hurt her didn’t register with me until one of the assistants said, “She’s not crying because it hurt; she’s crying because she’s a young woman and she’s lost her tooth.”

That hit me hard. We can get so focused on the treatment, the codes, and the costs that we can lose focus on the patient as a human being. In my years of mentoring and job shadowing, I’ve stressed to my audience that the dentistry is important, but don’t forget about the person who’s attached to the teeth.