Spring is always a particularly busy time of year at the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry and the School of Dental Hygiene. In May, we were happy to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduating dental hygiene, dental and international dentists’ degree program students and see them walk across the stage with their diplomas and degrees in hand. In a room fully packed with family members, friends, faculty and staff, the next generation of oral health-care providers was introduced to all in attendance. As I circulated amongst our graduates, their friends and families, the sense of community and celebration was palpable in the room.
It is on the importance of community that I wish to focus my message to you, our alumni. Our dental college has been the beneficiary, since its inception, of many years of community support from various stakeholders: faculty, alumni, industry, the Manitoba Dental Association, the Manitoba Dental Hygiene Association, and the College of Dental Hygienists, to name a few. Most prominently, it has been you, our alumni, who have steadfastly contributed to our mission over the years. You have taught, volunteered, engaged and supported the university on many levels so that we can deliver our mission of:
“Educating our learners to be skilled, evidence-informed, collaborative, and caring oral health professionals and advocates, partnering with and serving our diverse community.”
We, in turn, at the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry have also worked towards paying your generosity forward.
A team of college staff and faculty participated in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences’ Habitat for Humanity Manitoba build initiative, with Dr. Dieter Schönwetter being invited to participate in the delivery of the new home. The School of Dental Hygiene diploma students engaged with our community, including the Ronald McDonald House, Siloam Mission, Ten Ten, DASCH and the Beyond Medicine program with Seven Oaks School Division to promote oral health. Dr. Laura MacDonald and two degree completion students attended and helped prepare the lodge at the Blacksmith Sundance.
Dr. Noriko Boorberg led a Kindness in Action mission to Ecuador with five senior dental students and Mr. Jose Coreas to provide much-needed oral health-care services and supplies to local communities. Dr. Aaron Kim just completed a trip to Guatemala with a dental student to offer his services.
Dr. Vimi Mutalik, in a first-time initiative at the college, led with Dr. Mohammed Kadhim two oral cancer screening pop-up clinics with oral maxillofacial surgery and periodontics residents, dental hygiene, dental students and staff at the Bannatyne and Fort Gary campuses. These events resulted in over 300 patients being screened, and appropriate referrals were made to CancerCare Manitoba.
Dr. Bob Schroth and the Healthy Smile Happy Child Initiative have appreciated the involvement of dental and dental hygiene students in the various community oral health promotion outreach events this year as well as in the past.
Dr. James Gilchrist continues to lead the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Biomedical Youth Program (BYP), introducing inner-city youth and high school students to science, scientific methods and a career in the health sciences. The week-long BYP summer science camp, taking place once again in July, is being supported by six second-year dental students who will to run dentistry activities, with organizational support from graduate oral biology students and Dr. Boorberg and Dr. Kangmin Duan.
New this year, volunteer activities were integrated into courses, enhancing our dental students’ education through meaningful community engagement. Students contributed to diverse initiatives such as CanU workshops, free care clinics, mentorship programs, leadership roles, campus cleanups and outreach events like the Teddy Bears’ Picnic. We believe this allowed them to gain valuable insights into community service, mentorship and health-care accessibility.
We look forward to continuing these very important initiatives, both individually and as a university community, and we wish to thank you, our alumni, for your support in allowing us to do our part!
Wishing all of you a wonderful summer season and looking forward to reconnecting with many of you at our UMDAA Alumni of Distinction gala dinner on September 19, 2025 and UM Homecoming event on September 20, 2025!
Kindest regards,
Dr. Anastasia Kelekis-Cholakis
Dean, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry