Dr. Heinz Scherle (left) and Cindy Isaak-Ploegman will receive Alumni of Distinction Awards on Sept. 27.
Distinguished dentist and dental hygienist to be honoured by peers
Two UM alumni will be honoured for their distinguished careers in dentistry and dental hygiene at a gala on Sept. 27 at the Fort Garry Hotel.
Dr. Heinz Scherle, a retired dentist whose extensive service to the profession includes a term as president of the Manitoba Dental Association (MDA), will receive the 2024 Alumni of Distinction Award from the UM Dental Alumni Association.
Cindy Isaak-Ploegman, a long-standing UM instructor in dental hygiene who is an expert in the field of infection prevention and control, will be recognized with the 2024 Alumni of Distinction Award from the UM School of Dental Hygiene Alumni Association.
Dr. Heinz Scherle
Scherle, a member of the UM Dentistry Class of 1976, practised as a general dentist in Selkirk for four decades, retiring in 2017. Throughout his career, he took on roles to uphold and advance the profession.
“Not only was he a dedicated, ethical and committed dentist serving the community, he recognized the importance of dedicating time to the profession of dentistry,” his award nominator wrote.
Scherle has served three stints as a part-time instructor at the UM dental school, originally teaching removable prosthodontics. He later worked with fourth-year students in the general practice clinic. Since 2021, he has taught first-year students in the preclinical lab.
He was president of the MDA in 1992-93 – a year when many new workplace health and safety regulations were implemented at dental practices. As a board member of the MDA for seven years, he contributed to efforts to improve access to oral health care for groups such as residents of personal care homes.
He is a fellow of the International College of Dentists (ICD), recognizing his meritorious service to dentistry and the community at large. He is a former Canadian Section president of the ICD.
For more than 35 years, he has also been involved with the National Dental Examining Board (NDEB) of Canada, which administers exams to dentists who aim to be licensed in Canada. His many roles with the NDEB have included presiding examiner and invigilator.
Cindy Isaak-Ploegman
Isaak-Ploegman earned her diploma in dental hygiene at UM in 1989. She also holds a bachelor of arts and a master’s in adult education from UM.
In addition to her long career as a clinical dental hygienist, she has been an educator and mentor at the School of Dental Hygiene and the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry for more than 25 years. She has published in the areas of adult education, dental implants and dental unit waterline testing.
Certified in preventing and controlling infection in dental settings, she is the current infection prevention and control officer with the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry and quality assurance officer with UM’s Centre for Community Oral Health.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she played a leadership role at the dental college in synthesizing the emerging evidence and ensuring that correct practices were followed.
Isaak-Ploegman co-founded the UM School of Dental Hygiene Alumni Association in 2011 and was its longtime president. Her service to the profession has also included chairing the complaints committee of the College of Dental Hygienists of Manitoba, editing the periodical of the Manitoba Dental Hygienists Association and speaking at continuing professional development events.
“Cindy’s exceptional contributions to the dental hygiene profession, along with her steadfast dedication to both the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry and the oral health community more broadly, make her an exemplary alumna,” her award nominators wrote.
Tickets for the Sept. 27 Alumni of Distinction Awards Evening at the Fort Garry Hotel, honouring Scherle and Isaak-Ploegman, are available through the UM Dental Alumni Association website. The event will also pay tribute to the Dentistry Class of 1974.