May 2, 2025
Why did you decide to teach at the Mike Petryk School of Dentistry?
I graduated from the U of A Dental School in the Class of 2013. Incidentally, ours was the first class to move into the new Kaye Clinic for our final year. We had the distinction of being the last year to see patients at the old Dent-Pharm building, where Dr. Senior patiently helped us transition between developing film radiographs in the dark room, into learning the nuances of the incoming digital technologies!
I had very fond memories of many instructors on the clinic floor during that time of my life. In particular, I was impressed by those instructors who were actively running their own practices and yet still took time to come to the school to provide direction and mentorship for us students. I valued the little tips and tricks of the trade that they shared, and my optimism always rose when they spoke of their own experiences of growing in the profession. I was able to shadow many of their offices, and have kept in contact over the years long after my own graduation. I promised myself during that time that, once my busy years of starting a practice and raising young children was past, I would find my way back to the school to provide that same mentorship that I cherished all those years ago.
What do you like best about the school?
Given that I was born and raised in Edmonton, it was always my hope to attend University here to stay close to family. As such, I only applied to the U of A for dental school - it was the only option I would consider. Many of my older siblings had graduated from the MD and RN programs here, and I often would join them to study at the libraries on weekends when I was attending Harry Ainlay High School while preparing for my diploma exams. I have always loved the classic brick architecture and greenery on campus. My wife and I even had our wedding reception at the Faculty Club overlooking the beautiful river valley.
As a student in the dental program, I appreciated the broad scope of training available to us. I also appreciated that we were exposed to many different specialties within our field, who were able to wow us with their incredible expertise, but in a way that lifted our capabilities at the same time. As alumni, we still quote Dr. Lung's memorable lines from surgery lectures, and reminisce about the many incredible support staff who helped us persevere through the highs and lows of our first steps in dentistry. The Northern Rotation program was a huge highlight for me, where we were given a little more slack on the leash to explore our growing abilities and provide treatment in a setting that more closely approximated the "real world" outside of school. The weekend trips to the NWT and Lake Winagami were similarly memorable as I explored more of the country far from my usual stomping grounds. All the while, I remained in awe of our preceptors on rotation who were our cheerleaders and devoted time and energy to see to our continuing growth.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your background.
My wife and I grew up together in the south side of Edmonton in the community of Duggan. We met as classmates in Kindergarten, and stayed close friends for many years while going to French Immersion together and attended the same school from elementary to high school. When I graduated from high school, I worked up north in Fort McMurray and then committed myself to a church service mission centered in Geneva. It was a great privilege to live in Europe for the next two years, living and working in Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Switzerland.
Upon my return I reconnected with my lifelong friend Erin, and we were married a year later. When I was accepted to dental school at the U of A, she was also accepted into the NAIT RDA program, and to this day our shared dental training allows us to speak about our days in that strange technical language we all know so well. We are the proud parents of five beautiful children - two girls and three boys. My oldest daughter is set to graduate from high school next year, which is still strange as she was just a little toddler when I started dental school!
After finishing my training, we moved to the town of Innisfail where my brother and I set up Day Dental. We now have deep roots in our little community, and I love our little slice of heaven of an acreage with hills that roll down to a private lake, with loads of forests and mountain views on clear blue days. We love our day trips to Kananaskis, Banff, and David Thomspon country where we backpack, ski and explore this incredible province. Whenever we feel adventurous, we love to take off and travel to far flung places to take in great food and culture - our most recent foray being to Japan earlier this past spring. I still maintain my diehard fandom for my beloved Oilers, even though we live in the muddled borderlands of Flames country.
Dentistry has been an amazing career already, where we develop profound, life changing skills to serve others. It has provided a comfortable life for my family, and allowed us to look after many in our sphere of influence in the community. I have enjoyed enhancing my own training over the years, particularly in offering IV sedation and advanced surgical procedures for central Alberta. I love watching you students grow in skill and confidence, and look forward to seeing the tremendous good you will do for your communities as you embark on your careers. You have so much to look forward to!