January 18, 2016:
Happy New Year, everyone! I’m finally back from our outreach trip to Vietnam, and I cannot wait to share more in depth on what I experienced.
In a nutshell, I, together with another student, Sonia Minhas, under the leadership of Sherry Priebe, provided oral hygiene care to the children and staff at two orphanages, one being Thien Phuoc where the children are affected by ‘agent orange’, the Vietnam War chemical that causes severe deformities. We presented seminars of “Oral Biofilm, Protocol of Toothbrushing, Dentifrices and Flossing’ to the Dental Nurse school, facilitated an interactive oral health educational presentation to a group of fifty 10 year old students in their classroom, conducted oral cancer screenings with the ‘Velscope’ for further treatment diagnosis of treated oral cancer patients with Oncologists, watched a surgery of removing half the tongue with oral squamous cell carcinoma and replacing with a flap of neck tissue, and gave lectures at the UBC/Vietnam Oral Health Research Centre at the National Hospital on ‘Cleft Lip Palate, Infection Prevention and Control, and Client-Centred Communication’ to the dental nurses. A highlight was meeting the Consulate General of Vietnam, Richard Bale, a UBC alumni! He generously gave of his time to speak with us. We also enjoyed a visit to Can Dao island for a couple days of debriefing.
To learn more, watch the video below. Stay tuned for more updates!
December 11, 2015:
After being chosen by the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of British Columbia (UBC) to pioneer an outstanding project, I am excited to announce that in exactly two weeks, I will be travelling to and providing oral health care to individuals in Vietnam.
As UBC Dentistry’s pilot project, their goal is to create a sustainable partnership with the University of Hoi Chi Minh and National Hospital which will continually provide students the opportunity to treat those who are suffering and to fully understand the effectiveness of dental hygiene.
I look forward to not only present seminars and demonstrations in Ho Chi Minh City’s dentistry school and in the National and Oncology Hospitals, but to provide preventative care for oral cancer patients, oral cancer screenings and oral hygiene care in orphanages and the rural villages. I will also be working under the leadership of Sherry Priebe, who was recently awarded “The World’s Best Dental Hygienist” in Glasgow, Scotland.
Being in the Dental Hygiene Degree Program in UBC has enlightened me with the knowledge that preventing and treating oral health problems leads to overall better health. The program has given me the opportunity to experience the various special care populations and has helped me develop a greater desire to improve their current state. With our own two hands, we are able to make a positive impact in people’s lives. In turn, I believe connecting with the people in this rural setting will leave me with unforgettable memories that will help me develop a greater appreciation for my profession and change my perspective as a whole.
I’ll be updating this page regularly, so stay tuned! I look forward to experiencing this journey with you.
