News

On Thursday, October 1, more than 40 Faculty of Dentistry students, faculty, and staff members participated in a special fundraiser, titled Dress For Success Day.

Students were given the opportunity to trade in their traditional blue scrubs for the day and to sport appropriate business wear in exchange for a small donation to a local charity.

Dress For Success Day brought in a total of $300 in donations to the Dress for Success Halifax Society. The organization helps women in the local community make a positive first impression at job interviews by providing work-appropriate attire and access to a support network and career development tools.

"We are incredibly grateful for third-party fundraising events like this one because the general public is not aware that we are not a funded organization and that we require money to keep the doors open,” says executive director Brenda Saunders/Todd. “It costs approximately $300 to put a woman through the entire suite of services. Therefore, Dalhousie Dentistry has been successful in supporting a woman through our programs as a result of this initiative. Thank you so much!"

Supporing a worthy cause

“The Faculty of Dentistry considers scrubs and clinic jackets to be appropriate clinical attire,” says Dr. Blaine Cleghorn, assistant dean of clinics and building services, who authorized Dress For Success Day. "However, we understand that our students may decide to customize their wardrobes after they graduate. Dress For Success Day gave them a chance to try out acceptable alternatives within the confines of our clinic. It was a positive learning opportunity supporting a worthy cause, and we look forward to doing it again next year.”

Although participation in Dress For Success Day was optional, some students chose to donate funds while remaining in their scrubs. Others pulled out all of the stops - fourth-year student Omer Mallhi was decked out in a full suit under his clinic jacket. Coincidentally, he was the winner of the draw prize: a spiffy Dalhousie necktie.