News

l-r: Dr. Violet D'Souza and DDS3 student Vy Dang receive their NSDA awards (NSDA photos)

Faculty of Dentistry alumni and a current faculty member and student were recently presented with 2025 NSDA awards at a ceremony on June 14 at Digby Pines Resort in Digby, NS.
 
Vy Dang – Dr. Eric Hatfield Active Participation Award
DDS3 student Vy Dang received the Dr. Eric Hatfield Active Participation Award for her involvement in extracurricular activities in the dental community, such as committee membership, mentorship of fellow students, and outreach initiatives. 
 
First presented in 2021, this special award celebrates the qualities of Dr. Eric Hatfield (DDS’86), a popular and community focused alumnus who died unexpectedly in 2020 at the age of 60. With her involvement in the student society, the Multicultural Food Festival, and participation in Special Smiles events, and a dental mission trip to Vietnam, Dang is a deserving recipient. 
 
Dang grew up in Vietnam and says has always been conscious of the privileges she has had, including the opportunity to pursue her education in Canada. Receiving the award is "deeply meaningful", she says, and she aspires to carry forward Dr. Hatfield’s values and contributions into her practice. "[It] affirms that I’m moving in the right direction," says Dang, "that my heart and intentions are aligned with making meaningful contributions to the community."
 
Dr. Violet D'Souza – NSDA Community Service Award
Faculty member and public health specialist Dr. Violet D'Souza was presented with the NSDA Community Service Award for non-dental-related community service. Her research focuses on oral health equity among vulnerable populations, including cancer survivors, cognitive decline, and humanitarian migrants. She is also interested in the increasing politicization of preventive health measures and was engaged in the water fluoridation discussions in Halifax last autumn.
 
D'Souza says she was "surprised and deeply honoured" to receive the award and gives credit to her colleagues in the Faculty of Dentistry. For her, the award "affirms the value of public advocacy in oral health and reinforces my commitment to addressing community-level issues that impact long-term health outcomes." 
 
Three Faculty of Dentistry alumni also received NSDA awards. Dr. Juli Waterbury (DDS'07), recent NSDA president, received the T.D. Ingham Volunteer Award for exemplary service to NSDA committees. Dr. Pat Johnson (DDS'84), who couldn't attend the ceremony, was awarded the NSDA Award of Excellence for exemplary, long-standing service to organized dentistry. Finally, the Dr. Philip S. Christie Award for Distinguished Service was presented to Dr. Ian Ross (DDS'86) in recognition of his contributions and service to the profession for over 15 years. 
 
Congratulations to all the NSDA award winners on your achievement and your contributions to the profession!