Manitoba’s newest dentists, dental hygienists and pharmacists graduate

The accomplishments of Manitoba’s newest dentists, dental hygienists and pharmacists were celebrated on the afternoon of May 15 at the Spring Convocation ceremony on the Bannatyne campus.

The Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry Class of 2025 is made up of 30 doctor of dental medicine graduates. Six of the grads were international dentists originally educated in Nigeria, Hungary or India and have earned Canadian degrees through UM’s International Dentist Degree Program.

The School of Dental Hygiene Class of 2025 includes 26 graduates. And the College of Pharmacy Class of 2025 is comprised of 31 graduates who received the doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) undergraduate degree.

Dr. Michael Benarroch, UM president and vice-chancellor, told the students seated in the Brodie Centre atrium that they were about to be at the centre of so much.

Dentistry, dental hygiene and pharmacy students took part in the Convocation ceremony.

“Be proud to take your place there – you’re Bisons – and as graduates of this esteemed faculty, you have become the changemakers we need, and that is in part thanks to the many gifted practitioners, including alumni, who have helped train you,” Benarroch said.

In UM Chancellor Anne Mahon’s last Convocation address before the end of her second term, she told the students she was proud of everything they’ve achieved at UM.

“Our stories make us who we are. I challenge you to be vulnerable and to share the truths of your lives, and if offered someone else’s story, I encourage you to really listen and to hold it carefully,” Mahon said.

After the students crossed the stage, Tracy Bowman, executive director of alumni relations at UM, welcomed the graduates into the alumni community.

“Congratulations on your hard work and realizing this amazing, exciting milestone – Convocation,” Bowman said. “What you’ve achieved at the University of Manitoba is just the beginning. You were students for several years, but now you’re alumni for life.”

School of Dental Hygiene Class of 2025 students.

Farah Cheah was attracted to dental hygiene because of its focus on prevention and education. She was nervous, and her heart was thumping before she crossed the stage.

“When I was going up on stage, I thought, ‘I deserve it. It was really worth it. The journey was really great,’” said Cheah, who immigrated to Winnipeg from Malaysia as a teenager. She will be working as a dental hygienist in Winnipeg.

Dr. Allissa Morrice was drawn to dentistry because the profession brings together art and science. Looking back over the past four years of dental school, she is glad she chose UM.

“We had such a good clinical program. I’m coming out of school feeling quite confident. I think it’s good we got a lot of clinical experience. We had a small class size, so everybody was able to help each other out,” said Morrice, who is Métis, Southeast Region, St. Adolphe Local, and grew up in La Salle, Man. She will be practicing dentistry in Winnipeg.

Dr. Catherine He was a dental hygienist before entering dentistry. A highlight of dental school was finally being able to go maskless around her classmates.

“Because our four-year program started during COVID, one of my strongest memories is when COVID was done, and after two years, we were able to remove our masks. We were so happy to see each other’s faces,” said He, who immigrated to Canada from China as a teenager. She is planning to practice dentistry in British Columbia.

Dr. Scott Thomas was inspired to pursue pharmacy because a pharmacist once went “above and beyond” and opened his business after hours to help Thomas’s mother when she ran out of medication. A highlight of the program for him was gaining practical experience in his second year.

“It really brings to the forefront the aspect that you are caring for people, and these are real people, and they need your help. It’s a big deal, so it brings a little realism to your perspective, and I think on-the-job education was really what struck me,” said Thomas, who is Métis and grew up mostly in Winnipeg. He is interested in oncology and hopes to work with CancerCare Manitoba.

Dr. Shaelyn Gustafson received the UM Gold Medal in Pharmacy for the highest standing in the College of Pharmacy. During the ceremony, she was thinking back to when she was in her first year, and it felt like ages ago.

“There’s been a lot of hard work that has gone into reaching this point, so I felt really happy to be able to celebrate it here today,” said Gustafson, who has a job lined up in her hometown of Brandon, Man.

Watch an Instagram reel showing highlights of the ceremony.

Matthew Kruchak