Josée Greaves

Josée Greaves is a restorative dental hygienist who has been practising for the past 10 years in Ontario and Québec. She holds an Advanced Diploma in Dental Hygiene, a Restorative Dental Hygiene Certificate, a Dental Hygiene Self-Initiation Certificate, and is currently working towards a Bachelor of Dental Science at the University of British Columbia. Dental and health sciences have always been an interest of hers, and she is excited to further her career as she has many ideas to advance this field in clinical and community practice. She is ambitious and dreams of one day holding a director position with the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association. She is also devoted to volunteering at schools and daycares, educating youth to promote the importance of oral and general health. Josée’s newest endeavour is to advocate for mobile dental hygiene, especially in long-term care facilities.

On a personal note, Josée places a lot of importance on work-life balance and personal well-being. She finds comfort in various outdoor activities with her husband and kids or relaxing on a hammock in nature.

Shivalika Katyal

Shivalika recently graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Dental Science (Dental Hygiene) degree. She has a vision to pursue a career in academia in order to influence other developing oral health professionals in a way that benefits society in meaningful ways, and to contribute to the knowledge base of dental hygiene through her interest in educational research. To facilitate this career aspiration, Shivalika is currently enrolled in the Master of Science in craniofacial science program at UBC.

During her undergraduate education, Shivalika had the opportunity to work with underserved communities, including immigrants, individuals living with diabetes, individuals with a history of incarceration, and individuals living with the human immunodeficiency virus. Shivalika also participated in the UBC Vietnam International Outreach program in 2018, where she provided clinical therapy, education, and health promotion activities to children in orphanages and elementary schools, to residents in long-term care facilities, and to cancer patients at oncology hospitals. She was able to educate Vietnamese dental students and oncology specialists on the importance of dental hygiene and adverse effects of cancer treatment on the oral cavity. The ability to change the world in a positive way and spread knowledge of the importance of disease prevention ignited her passion and desire to be a global citizen.

Yolanda Lan

Yolanda graduated from the entry-to-practice dental hygiene degree program at the University of British Columbia (UBC), earning her Bachelor of Dental Science (dental hygiene) degree in 2018. She continues to pursue her passion for oral health research in the Master of Science in craniofacial science program at UBC. Yolanda is conducting her research on the use of cyanoacrylate adhesive as a barrier to prevent the spread of herpes simplex viruses in the dental setting. While she continues her studies, Yolanda has volunteered at hospitals, community centres, and food banks in lower mainland BC to provide dental hygiene care to vulnerable populations at no charge. Yolanda has also travelled to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, as part of a service-learning trip through UBC’s dental hygiene program, where she provided oral health education to children in orphanages and caretakers in shelters. As a result of her knowledge acquired from research and her experiences with community services, Yolanda is hoping to become a dental hygiene educator after completing her studies, so she can continue contributing to society as well as the dental hygiene profession.

Nicole MacDonald

Nicole MacDonald is a registered dental hygienist from Port Hood, Nova Scotia. She obtained her Diploma in Dental Hygiene in 2018 from the Canadian National Institute of Health. As her passion for client care developed, she felt obligated to continue her education. Currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Dental Hygiene program at Dalhousie University, Nicole is active in research studies and has a keen interest in teaching first-year clinic to students. Nicole plans to apply to the master’s degree program in health education this fall. These educational components are critical steps to obtaining the career of her dreams—becoming faculty in a dental hygiene program.

Nicole cherishes her love for the dental field, following her mother’s footsteps into the profession. During her spare time, you can catch Nicole training for her next race, spending time with her friends and family, and travelling! She is honoured to have been selected for the 2020 Hu-Friedy NEVI 2.0 Scholarship and is very thankful to the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association and Hu-Friedy for making this funding available.

Alissa Li

Since graduating from Vancouver Community College in 2018, Alissa has found her passion for social responsibility and the pursuit of excellence in the field of dental hygiene. Caring for her clients remains her greatest privilege, and though her career has only begun, she is optimistic that this profession will take her down many unexpected, but enjoyable paths. Her volunteer work with one of Vancouver’s non-profit dental clinics has shown her the kindness and compassion of many dental care professionals, and she hopes to inspire others to advocate for underserved populations as well. Currently, as a student at the University of British Columbia working towards her Bachelor of Dental Science, Alissa anticipates that obtaining her degree will be another stepping stone in her lifelong learning process, and is determined to utilize her knowledge to bridge the gap between oral and overall health. She would also like to thank all of those who have continuously supported her throughout her education and career.

Outside of the office, Alissa enjoys traveling, kickboxing, and cheering on her hometown Vancouver Canucks! Trying new restaurants is also a hobby but spending time outside on a sunny day in beautiful British Columbia is also fantastic!