News

The Research in Oral Health Student Presentations Showcase on March 26 was the first of its kind for the Faculty of Dentistry in so many ways. Formerly known as Table Clinics, it was the first event to be held under the new research-focused name. And, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the first time in the event’s 51-year history that it was held virtually.

Here are the 2021 winners:

Student Prizes

*Click on the links to see the presentations.

Hannah MacDonald, the winner in the original research category, says that she was “thrilled” to win this prize. “Having experience working with members of vulnerable populations, I feel passionate about this research and believe it has the potential to positively impact our communities,” she says. “I was glad to see that it was well accepted and supported by members of the profession.

Behind the scenes
The virtual format for the showcase combined YouTube videos with Collaborate Ultra virtual classrooms for the student presentations. The MS Teams Live platform was used for the live intermission event during which Dr. Ben Davis, dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, and Dr. Leigha Rock, director of the School of Dental Hygiene, presented an update from the Faculty and took questions.

Despite a few technical hiccups, 51 dentistry and 29 dental hygiene students successfully presented the results of the research projects they have been working on since they started their studies in the Faculty.

What the judges said
Nearly 80 judges volunteered their time to watch the presentations and select the winners. In previous years, when the event has been held in-person, judges were recruited locally. This year, judging took place virtually, which meant that judges could volunteer from anywhere – and they did.

Dr. Crawford Bain (DDS’75) is now semi-retired and living in Scotland. He had been a judge in the 1980s and 1990s when he was a faculty member at the Dal dental school. “This format allows all alumni to be involved, no matter how far away,” he says.

“We always need volunteers for this kind of thing,” says Dr. Lex MacNeil (DDS’73), who is retired and living in the Chicago area. He was a first-time judge for this event, but has previous experience judging student posters and presentations at ADEA. “I was most impressed with the way [the students] reacted to, and answered, questions after their presentations.”

First-time judge, Dr. Gilda Pronych (DDS’98), lives and works in New Hampshire. She welcomed the opportunity to participate virtually and says that the students gave “organized, thoughtful presentations” and seemed passionate about their topics. “It’s important for alumni to support future dentists,” she says, explaining her decision to get involved.

Dr. Shermin Rahimkhani (DDS’04) lives near Ottawa and was also a newcomer to judging. “This has been my first true alumni experience,” he says, “and it put me in touch with the school that provided me the skills I use every day. I wish I lived a bit closer and could be more involved. This virtual visit and being part of the dental student academics was great.” 

Recent graduate, Dr. Justin Yeoh (DDS’20) who works at the Fundy Dental Emergency Clinic in the Annapolis Valley, was impressed by the students’ ability to adapt to the new format this year. He says that giving back was an important factor in his decision to be a judge. “I want to stay in touch with faculty as I appreciate what they have done for me.”

Dr. Paul Downing (DDS’79) has retired from his practice in Dartmouth and is an eight-time veteran of judging Table Clinics. He appreciated the opportunity to catch up with some other alumni during the pre-event training session and says that the final marking session, via links to YouTube and SurveyMonkey, was “seamless”.

Showcases of the future
Will future showcases be live, virtual, or a happy hybrid of the two? The jury is still out, but this year’s event demonstrated that it is possible not only to do it, but to benefit from bringing in a wider range of people as both judges and attendees.

Thank you to all the sponsors who generously donated prizes to the winners and to all those who helped behind the scenes. For more information about the RIOH Student Presentations Showcase and to see other presentations, please go to: www.dal.ca/daldentistry/rioh.