Lindsay Van Dam
Lindsay is a registered dental hygienist from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in 2013 and her
Diploma in Dental Hygiene in 2015 from Dalhousie University. While working in private practice, Lindsay became a
clinical dental hygiene instructor and then faculty member at Dalhousie’s School of Dental Hygiene. Concurrently,
Lindsay completed her Master of Health Studies (leadership) from Athabasca University (2022). Her thesis project
explored equity, diversity, inclusivity, and access (EDIA) capacity of dental faculty members and dental education to
inform strategies for improving learning settings and support for dental and dental hygiene students from
underrepresented groups. Lindsay credits her inspiring professional and research mentors for her own passion for
research and knowledge that advances oral health professions education, interprofessional collaboration, and integrated
health systems in Canada. A commitment to leading change and to capacity building for her profession has led her to
pursue further education as a PhD candidate at Dalhousie. Lindsay’s doctoral work centres on professional socialization,
interprofessional education, and collaborative practice readiness of oral health students. She hopes to contribute to
the development of collaborative health systems and health policy inclusive of the oral health professions.