In October, Tasha Hou (DDS 2021) completed her Interdisciplinary Leadership Studies program certificate at the Peter Lougheed Leadership College (PLLC). She organized the Women in Dentistry and Mentorship Conference and Workshop (held in October 2018) as her "Stretch Experience" (a 200-hour final project for the student to develop an idea with the support of the faculty). "You really only learn about leadership from practicing it."
Her conference was well-attended and successful enough that she is working with staff in Continuing Dental Education to expand it into a recurring, student-run event, with the next one tentatively planned for the spring of 2020.
The conference included a workshop session, which Tasha says became a stress-relief and bonding experience for the participants and speakers alike. "It was a relief to be able to talk about our struggles among people who may understand." Tasha says, "I now know who to ask when I have troubles, and have more confidence asking for things, and I keep in touch with the speakers."
Tasha has been dedicated to promoting equality even before this experience. Along with fellow student Jennifer Drever, she started a lunch and learn speaker series (Women's Empowerment Lunch & Learn, or WELL). WELL is a speaker series intended to: "create a positive support and networking environment for females in the DDS program, and give us some more individualized advice on how to better navigate our future careers."
Now that she's completed her leadership courses and had time to reflect, she says that it was no tougher adding the extra course work than the transition into DDS. Despite being an additional commitment, she says the different types of brain work helped her destress, get out of the field, and meet new people. "If you're passionate about something, go for it, even if it seems like extra work."
"I wanted to become a dentist for a few reasons. I figured dentistry would be challenging enough, fit my lifestyle, and allow me to help people smile. I also like both art and science and the hands-on component of dentistry really appealed to me." Since finishing her certificate, she has started Mosaics Clothing (a clothing brand) with Daniel Hwang (DDS 2022).
"I have been lucky to have some mentorship from other people in the industry. When I was 11, I met my closest mentor. She was a dentist, so I kind of followed in her footsteps."
However, despite the number of female dentists growing in recent years (58% of dentists under 30 years old in 2009 were female), she points out the lack of female mentors. Similar problems exist for immigrant students and other minority groups, or dentists who are new to Canada.
"There's a deficit of diverse mentorship, since those dentists don't tend to be in higher-leadership positions or own their own practices, but we need diversity in dentists because it helps our patients. So awareness and support for all minorities is really important." And, as with other areas of life, "interlocking oppressions" (see Dr. Peggy McIntosh's work, 1989) add a layer of complexity to the issues.
"The biggest value of the certificate program came from interacting with different-minded people from various faculties and being in that multidisciplinary environment. Everyone was very driven and it was a good atmosphere to connect with people."
Tasha's advice to fellow students? "Find yourself a community with similar people who you feel comfortable with. Then you'll have the community to go through struggles together. Your community can help you to navigate through dentistry. Be you, and don't be afraid to strive for your goals and dreams."