Convocation Spotlight Series | Celine Dinel
Wellness advocate. Leader. Dental hygienist. Celine Dinel made the most of her UAlberta experience.
Celine Dinel is graduating from the dental hygiene diploma program and will be developing a periodontal wellness program along with her colleagues in private practice.
What advice would you give to new students?
I think it is crucial to maintain balance between school, social life and work. My advice would be to combine these things whenever possible and to know when you need to cut back so that you are not overworked. Find a job that is willing to work around your school schedule and have late night study dates with your friends. Spending this time together brings you closer, and reminds you that you are not alone during some of the most stressful times in school.
How did you engage with student life on campus?
Being in a relatively small program, my class actually made a Facebook group to post and organize social events. Making sure to follow the Facebook pages for your faculty is a great way to see what events are happening on campus and offers a platform for you to make your own groups, intramural sports teams, fundraising opportunities and any other events that you may be interested in. My class also had social representatives, and health and wellness representatives that would actively look for campus-wide events to participate in.
What was your most memorable UAlberta experience?
My most memorable experience in the Dental Hygiene Diploma Program was the practicum in the northern communities of High Level and La Crete. It was an opportunity to see what working in a private practice would be like, and it was a great introduction to interprofessional practice between dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants. Aside from this, it was a way for me to experience the reality of barriers to accessing dental care in these communities. It was incredibly eye opening, and it helped me see the value of the services I would provide in my career as a dental hygienist.
What was your favourite class during your program?
My favorite course during the program was the clinical teaching practicum course I took in fourth year. Having the opportunity to share my knowledge with people who were in the same position I was in only a few years prior was a reminder of how far I had come. I had fantastic clinical instructors throughout my schooling whose knowledge and expertise I could draw from in my own teaching practice. I was most excited about seeing the progress the students had made throughout the semester, and I had so much fun interacting with the dental students.
Who was your mentor or favourite professor?
It would be hard for me to narrow it down to one mentor or favorite professor. All of the instructors were so knowledgeable and supportive, with each one having something different to offer. Professor Alexandra Sheppard really stands out in my mind as a mentor for my whole class because she was not only a major advocate for my class within the faculty, but also for the dental hygiene profession. Also, Professor Minn Yoon offered me an opportunity in the summer to expand my knowledge in oral pathology, teaching tools, and research which will be useful to me in the future.
What's next for you?
Right now, I am happy to gain some experience working in private practice as a dental hygienist, but I do aspire to become a clinical instructor in dental hygiene. I am lucky to be working in a practice that is highly focussed on offering continuing education to other dental professionals and finding better solutions for periodontal disease. I am currently involved in implementing a periodontal wellness program with them. They have also offered me the opportunity to teach other practitioners about this program, if it is successful, as a continuing education course for dental professionals.
Convocation Spotlight Series | Madison Howey
Wellness advocate. Leader. Dental hygienist. Madison Howey made the most of her UAlberta experience.
What advice would you give to new students?
My advice for new students is to take some time to breathe, and to remember to have fun! Whether it's setting aside 15 minutes to sit and do nothing, or joining an intramural sports team or club; a little self-care goes a long way!
What was your favourite class during your program?
My absolute favourite class during my program was clinic. It was beyond rewarding to physically apply everything that we had learned in class, and to get the opportunity to see the difference we can make in our patient's lives as healthcare professionals.
Who was your mentor or favourite professor?
A large mentor for me was Minn Yoon. She always pushed me reach for the stars, and was extremely warm and supportive. She is such an inspiring woman, and I feel tremendously lucky to have had such a wonderful role model throughout my time in the program.
What's next for you?
I will be starting my Masters of Education at the University of Calgary in July, and will be working as a hygienist in private practice in Calgary. I truly believe we are all lifelong learners, and I can't wait to enhance my ability share my passion for learning and the profession of dental hygiene with those around me.