A message from the dean

The last few months have seen intense activity in the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry.

Our faculty, support staff and students have been working very hard to prepare for the changes mandated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinic protocols have been adapted, infection control guidelines have been redeveloped and appropriate PPE has been purchased. The complicated task of reorganizing clinical and pre-clinical teaching schedules in conjunction with implementation of online synchronous and asynchronous delivery of didactic material has been completed. Academics have quickly adapted to a new way of delivering the curriculum and continue to find innovative ways of engaging with our students.

Our infection control lead, Cindy Isaak-Ploegman, together with our clinical support staff and faculty, have visited every area of the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry and have reorganized our physical spaces so as to adhere to our Interim COVID-19 infection control guidelines. A wholesome review of all our patient flow protocols has taken place and in collaboration with RFHS and the University of Manitoba we were able to open our premises in a phased in approach. In addition, the installation of new computer terminals in our Main Clinic with the generous donation of funds from Dr. Gerald Niznick has allowed us to transition to a digital electronic health record.

This activity was coupled with a reorganization and redeployment effort of our Central Support Services unit and administrative staff under the leadership of Drs. Trenna Reeve, Noriko Boorberg and Heidi Adamko in order to achieve more streamlined operations.

In the last few months, we have welcomed our incoming graduate students in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, Orthodontics and Prosthodontics.

The graduate clinics housed in the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry have now reopened and non-emergent patient care has resumed.

Our undergraduate dental and dental hygiene students and our International Dental Degree students were welcomed on campus at the beginning of August for the completion of their hands-on requirements and the start of their respective orientations. Our undergraduate dental clinic and remaining specialty clinics (Sleep Apnea, TMD, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Pathology) opened at the beginning of September.

As life slowly returns to a new normal we are continuously adapting and learning how to live with COVID-19 amongst us. Paramount in my mind is the safety of our patients, students, faculty and staff. I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to the multitude of people who have helped, volunteered and worked extraordinarily long hours to ensure we are ready to open our doors again in the safest manner possible.

Dr. Anastasia Kelekis-Cholakis

Dean, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry

Dental clinic reopens with pandemic safety measures

While the undergraduate clinic looked different when it reopened to patients on September 8, the same high-quality care the dental students, and their supervising faculty members, provide remains the same.

New safety protocols and equipment, a reduced capacity, and digital paperwork are in place to help keep patients, students, faculty and staff safe. High-volume evacuator systems are being used during moderate to high-risk procedures. To limit the number of people handling paperwork the college has placed computers at each station with signature pads so they can discontinue paper charts. Read the full story. 

Scientists cautiously reopen labs on Bannatyne campus

Dr. Devi Atukorallaya, an assistant professor of oral biology, was interviewed for a UM Today story about returning to her laboratory after the treat of COVID-19 closed her lab in March. Read the full story here.  

Remembering Dr. Crawford and Dr. Wise

We are saddened by the passing of two Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry alumni: Dr. Patrick Ralph Crawford and Dr. Julius Wise. 

The two proud University of Manitoba alumni dedicated their decades-long careers to serving patients in Winnipeg. They were leaders in the field of dentistry in the province and beyond. Read the full announcement. 

Pandemic won’t stop B.Sc. (Dent.) research

Troubleshooting is a major part of research under normal circumstances. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, it takes even more problem-solving to carry out a project.

Students enrolled in the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry’s bachelor of science in dentistry (B.Sc. (Dent.) program have had to be creative and adapt to the current situation because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Dental students Stefan Mezibroski and Aarushi Dhawan were interviewed for the UM Today story. 

Visit with Dr. Odlum

Dr. Billy Wiltshire, professor and head of preventive dental science, visited senior scholar in community dentistry Dr. Olva Odlum on her farm in Fraserwood, Man., in early June. Dr. Odlum turned 80 years old last year. Drs. Wiltshire and Odlum discussed and reminisced in many historical aspects of community dentistry at the University of Manitoba over a cup of tea.

Banishing the bitter

Whether it’s the harsh zing of some salad greens or the vile tang of liquid antibiotics, a bitter taste can make many foods and drugs hard to swallow. Dr. Prashen Chelikani, professor of oral biology, is seeking science-based ways to make bitter products – from spinach extract to chocolate to common medicines – more palatable. Read the full story. 

Open wide for equity

Most Canadians take pride in their universal health-care system and don’t think of it as excluding anyone. But what about dental care?

Alumnus Dr. Carlos Quiñonez [DMD/98, M.Sc./04] says few Canadians realize how poorly this country ranks in terms of providing government-funded dental care to people who can’t afford it, such as lower-income seniors and the working poor. Read the full story. 

Healthy Smile Happy Child 2020 presentation series

Since the beginning of 2020, the Healthy Smile Happy Child initiative has offered the public five CE Learning Sessions as part of their ongoing presentation series. The presentations were open to the public at large and were broadcast through Telehealth and Zoom.

Over 600 people, mostly dental professionals and primary healthcare workers, from across Canada attended the presentations. Learn about the presentations. 

Goodbye grad students

The graduate orthodontic program said a fond farewell in June to its three graduating orthodontic residents – Dr. Declan Hennessey, Dr. Tyrone Zybutz and Dr. Richa Sharma – following the completion of their 36-month full-time clinical specialty program.

A farewell luncheon was held in honour of the graduates at St. Charles Country Club, kindly hosted and sponsored by Dr. Bobby Ward, president of the Graduate Orthodontic Alumni and Supporters‘ Fund and also a recent alumnus of the Graduate Orthodontic Program. We extend best wishes to our three orthodontic alumni in their future careers.

Photo (from left to right): Dr. Robert Drummond, Dr. Declan Hennessey, Dr. Tyrone Zybutz, Dr. Billy Wiltshire, Dr. Richa Sharma and Dr. Baha Atout.

Q&A with Dr. Klus

A Q&A with Dr. Bradley Klus, director of the graduate program in pediatric dentistry, appeared in the June 2020 issue of Mirror, the official publication of the Canadian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Read the feature on page 33. 

Emergency referral services

Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry professors Dr. Trenna Reeve, Dr. Julie Pfeffer and Dr. Rene Chu spoke with the Canadian Dental Association about the college’s emergency referral services. View the video. 

Read new issue of RadyUM magazine online

The summer 2020 issue of the RadyUM magazine is digital only and now available online. This is the sixth edition of the publication that celebrates the successes of the thriving Rady Faculty of Health Sciences community. Find out what's in this issue.