Senator and UM alum urges dentistry, dental hygiene students to focus on personal development

Speaking to the incoming class of dental and dental hygiene students, a Canadian senator and UM alum emphasized the importance of personal development throughout their careers.

Dr. Mary Jane McCallum, who graduated from the UM dental school in 1990, gave the keynote address at the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry and School of Dental Hygiene Opening Assembly on September 4 on the Bannatyne campus. The event officially welcomed the learners and included the White Coat Ceremony and the recitation of the Community Code.

Dr. Mary Jane McCallum

McCallum, who is believed to be the first Indigenous woman in Canada to become a dentist, said she had learned to view dentistry as a business and ignore the human aspects of the patient. She said she had to decolonize what western education had taught her and become a health professional who delivered person-centred care.

“I started to work with my patients on their treatment plan to teach them about taking ownership of their decisions,” said McCallum, who was appointed to the Canadian Senate in 2017.

“They’d say to me, ‘You’re the expert, you decide.’ I said, ‘No, it’s your mouth and your health, and you need to take ownership of your decisions.’ To take ownership of attending their appointments. I started to look at my clinic space as sacred space, because it is sacred.”

McCallum, who is of Cree heritage, provided dental care to First Nations communities across Manitoba during her three decades of distinguished service.

Mallory Thomas

McCallum has led the way for students like Mallory Thomas, who is from Peguis First Nation. Thomas worked as a dental assistant for six years before enrolling in dental school.

“I just fell in love with the profession and wanted to keep going and challenge myself. Dentistry is a profession where you consistently learn throughout your career, so that’s why I chose it,” she said.

Thomas is one of 29 dental students in the Class of 2029. There are six students in the International Dentist Degree Program (IDDP) Class of 2027 and 26 students in the dental hygiene Class of 2027.

Dr. Anastasia Kelekis-Cholakis, dean of the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, spoke to the students about the significance of the White Coat Ceremony.

“That white coat is more than a uniform, it’s really a symbol of responsibility and a trust our communities place on your shoulders. Wear it with humility, not pride. Honour it as a lifelong learner. Never take for granted what it represents,” Kelekis-Cholakis said.

Dr. Karimi Minuzzi Tookuni

When IDDP student Dr. Karimi Minuzzi Tookuni donned her white coat, she said it was amazing.

“It’s a symbol, but it really hits you when you put it on,” said Tookuni, who has been a dental assistant since immigrating to Canada from Brazil 10 years ago. IDDP provides dentists who have trained outside of Canada the opportunity to enter the final two years of the UM dental college’s four-year degree program. 

“I think the IDDP program is a pathway to find myself again,” Tookuni said. “It’s amazing to be in this program to be able to help people and make a little bit of a difference in the community.”

Mary Bertone, director of the School of Dental Hygiene, told the students that when reciting the Community Code, they should keep in mind that the words represent the core values and expectations of the college.

“I urge you to consider what you’re saying thoughtfully, encourage you to embrace these words as both a guide and inspiration throughout your studies,” Bertone said.

Raphael Cristobal

Raphael Cristobal, a dental hygiene student who immigrated to Canada from the Philippines at the age of seven, said that reciting the Community Code marked a transition from being a student to becoming a health-care provider.

“It feels surreal. I can’t wait for the relationships and moments this program has in store for me,” Cristobal said.

View an Instagram Reel recapping the Opening Assembly. 

Matthew Kruchak