September 24, 2010
On Thursday, September 23, the Faculty of Dentistry at Dalhousie University held its annual Prizes and Awards Ceremony, recognizing the achievements of some of its top students.
This year, for the first time, the event was combined with another annual event, the White Coat Ceremony, where all first-year Dentistry and Dental Hygiene students are asked to sign a register and are presented with a White Coat - symbols representing their commitment to the rights and responsibilities enjoyed by those within the dental profession.
One of the students who took part in both facets of the evening was Alexandra Zed of Rothesay, New Brunswick. Along with donning her White Coat, she was also announced as the recipient of the Faculty of Dentistry Gift and Memorial Scholarship - a prominent award presented annually to the student entering the first year of Dentistry with the highest scholastic standing.
"I feel so honoured to receive this award," she said. "I worked very hard in my undergrad to get into Dalhousie, but never expected to receive this prestigious award, so it is very special."
Zed is a familiar name in the Faculty of Dentistry - her father, Michael (DDS'76), cousins Christopher (DDS'94), Susan (DDS'83) and Julia Wowchuk (DDS'09) are all alumni, and her great uncle Leesha (LLD'95) was presented with an honorary degree from Dalhousie in recognition of his contributions to dentistry.
She says that she became interested in dentistry while working at her father's clinic during the summer months, and is proud to be following her familial footsteps.
"I was very intrigued about all the different procedures happening," she said. "Most importantly, I loved the daily interaction with patients. I chose Dalhousie due to its small class size and clinical program. I continuously heard great things about the program and knew it was the right fit for me. The most important lesson I've learned so far is that this experience is going to be a steady journey and that each day I have to apply myself and take in everything about the profession of dentistry."
Ms. Zed was among the 34 students who were presented with awards during the ceremony. The students were joined by Dr. Richard Raftus (DDS'86), the recipient of the W.W. Wood Award for Teaching Excellence in Dental Education. Dr. Raftus is an Instructor in the Department of Dental Clinical Sciences with the Faculty of Dentistry.
Recipients of the 2010-2011 Scholarships and Special Awards:
Faculty of Dentistry Gift and Memorial Scholarship: Alexandra Zed
Dalhousie Entrance Dental Scholarship: Renee Mulrooney
Dr. James P. McGuigan Memorial Scholarship: Marcos Klemig
Dr. Gordon Nikiforuk Admission Scholarship: James Hicks
Dalhousie University Dental Scholarship: Meghan Horne
Dalhousie University Dental Scholarship: Beth MacPherson
Dr. Don Stephenson Memorial Scholarship: David Archer
Dr. I.K. Lubetsky Scholarship: David Archer
Dr. Noel H. Andrews Memorial Scholarship: David Archer
Dr. Terry Ingham Memorial Scholarship: Jordan d'Eon
Gaum-Brayton Endodontic Scholarship: Jordan d'Eon
The John Phillips Memorial Scholarship: Jordan d'Eon
International College of Dentists Award: Claire Kanasewich
Dr. Kathleen Stack McColough Scholarship in Dentistry: Heather Johnson
Dr. Bruce N. Fergusson Memorial Scholarship: Karim Al-Khatib
Lisa Van Alphen Memorial Award: Kathleen Esposito
First Year Dentistry Prizes and Awards 2009-2010
Charles Bell Memorial Prize: Meghan Horne
Dr. F.A. Godsoe Prize: Meghan Horne
Dr. F.A. Godsoe Prize: Meghan Horne
Elsevier Science Prize: Meghan Horne
NS Dental Association Prize: Meghan Horne
NS Dental Association Prize: Meghan Horne
Charles Bell Memorial Prize: Hannah Park
Dr. John W. Dobson Memorial Prize: Hannah Park & Justin Madsen
Newfoundland/Labrador Dental Association Award: Angela Oliver
NS Dental Association Prize: Sarah Orser
Leonard Goldfarb Prize: Sonja Tosic
Second Year Dentistry Prizes and Awards 2009-2010
Charles Bell Memorial Prize: Beth MacPherson
Charles Bell Memorial Prize: Matthew Murphy
Dr. David Manuel Memorial Prize: Meghan Dicks
Dr. David Manuel Memorial Prize: Matthew Murphy
NS Dental Association Prize: Matthew Murphy
NS Dental Association Prize: James Brunt
NS Dental Association Prize: Kristle Lambert
NS Dental Association Prize: Philip McKenzie
Atl. Society of Periodontology: Melissa Brobst
Louis Nief Award: Marianne Dobbin
Third Year Dentistry Prizes and Awards 2009-2010
Dr. J. Stanley Bagnall Memorial Prize: David Archer
Atlantic Orthodontics Society Prize: David Archer
NS Dental Association Prize: Jordan d'Eon
Dr. D.E. Williams Prize: Sarah Foley
Third-Year Comprehensive Patient Care III Prize: Lindsay Dietrich
Dr. F.A. Godsoe Prize: Karim Al-Khatib & Himani Gupta
Elsevier Science Prize: Genevieve Poitras
United Dental Laboratory Prize: Genevieve Poitras
Dr. W.H.H. Beckwith Prize: Jake Sorensen
First Year Dental Hygiene Prizes and Awards 2009-2010
Katie Lubetzki Memorial Prize: Heather Pumphrey
Gross Anatomy Book Prize: Heather Pumphrey
Newfoundland/Labrador Dental Association Award: Heather Pumphrey
Nova Scotia Dental Association Prize: Alanna MacDonald & Mary Ellen McCarvill
PEI and NB Dental Hygienists Assoc. Prize: James Chin
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
The John P. Laba Memorial Research Award: Dr. Clayton Davis
Faculty Award 2009-2010
W.W. Wood Award: Dr. Richard Raftus