Sad news - Dr. Sandy Cobban

Message from Dr. Paul Major

Dear Colleagues,

I am saddened to announce the passing of Dr. Sandy Cobban-a title Sandy earned less than a year ago. Sandy passed away peacefully on the eve of January 11, 2013.

Sandy was a fighter. She was diagnosed and treated for cancer in 2004. After treatment, she received a positive outcome only to have it return in 2007, during the time she was completing her PhD. Her quest to obtain her PhD while fighting cancer was a demonstration of Sandy's passion for her studies and the pursuit of higher knowledge. She once said that her oncologist told her that people who have something they are working towards or something that they are continuing to work on, do much better than those who don't. There's truth in this because on March 22, 2012, Sandy successfully defended her PhD dissertation and on June 13, 2012, Sandy proudly walked across the Jubilee Auditorium stage with son Nigel (who received his Bachelor of Education degree on the same stage the previous day) to receive her PhD from the Faculty of Nursing.

Sandy is considered a national and international leader and visionary in the dental hygiene profession. She is well known and respected throughout the profession.

Sandy was a mentor to her two boys and to many who knew her. The past few years of her journey were full of ups and downs, but no matter what, she never gave up on her goal of getting her PhD, contributing to the profession with presentations, publications and committee work as well as living her life to its fullest.

Our thoughts are with Sandy's family and friends.

Paul

Paul Major DDS, MSc, FRCD(C)
Professor and Chair, School of Dentistry
Senior Associate Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry