Nancy Vertel remembers the exact moment she decided to specialize as a pediatric dentist. It was last year when her son, then nine months old, began wheezing and had difficulty breathing.
As a first-time mom, Vertel felt completely overwhelmed and helpless until she arrived at a medical clinic. Calm and competent pediatricians quickly diagnosed and treated her son for a respiratory infection.
“That’s when the light came on for me,” says Vertel who prior to immigrating to Canada in 2003, had established a thriving dental practice in her hometown of Medellin, Colombia.
“I realized how much I would love being able to make going to the dentist a positive experience for kids and at the same time guide their parents toward better oral health.”
Vertel takes her first steps toward fulfilling that dream next month at UBC. The Faculty of Dentistry is launching a new specialty training program in pediatric dentistry in combination with an MSc or PhD in craniofacial science — which is the study of the normal and abnormal development and health of the complex head and neck region. The normal length of study for the PhD option is six years, while the MSc option is three years.
Previously, B.C. dentists wishing to gain skills and credentials in pediatric dentistry could only do so in Toronto or in the U.S.
“We recognized the need to keep dentists within B.C.,” says Edward Putnins, professor and associate dean of research and graduate and postgraduate studies in the Faculty of Dentistry.
As well, the Faculty has added two other graduate programs in orthodontics and prosthodontics, to complement the existing periodontics and endodontics postgraduate programs.
Putnins says the extensive portfolio of recognized specialty degree programs will enable UBC faculty to provide more integrated management for their patients with complex oral and craniofacial disorders.
“We envision that complex patient cases could be referred from across the province or western Canada,” says Putnins, adding that the Faculty’s mandate includes community involvement and support while providing service and resources to practicing dentists.
UBC’s full suite of graduate programs will also help to address worldwide shortage of dental academics due to the aging of current faculty, the expanded number of North American dental schools and the lure of private practice.
“There is a strong demand for new generations of clinical specialists who are ready to teach and also conduct outstanding research,” says Putnins.
