Students entering post-secondary education in Dental Hygiene look forward to the day when they can declare, “I am a Dental Hygienist.”(1) Choosing dental hygiene as their profession, completing studies and identifying with our national association are part of the emerging professional. “I educate and empower Canadians to embrace their oral health for better overall health and well-being.”(1)  [1]Staff and students from John Abbott College embraced these concepts on Saturday May 13, 2017 when, in partnership with the Canadian Alliance for Syrian Aid (CASA) and Red Cross, they had the unique opportunity to participate in a Dental Public Health event.

Twenty-one dental hygiene students and four faculty members offered Oral Hygiene Education and supported a free Clinical Screening completed by dentists. This event allowed our students to share knowledge while incorporating their communication and organizational skills. Students provided cultural familiarity as 10 spoke Arabic thereby facilitating initial questioning concerning oral pain and tooth sensitivity and delivering oral hygiene instruction. The power point presentation was prepared in both English and Arabic to allow the refugees the opportunity to more easily appreciate the material.

Faculty played a pivotal role throughout the day. Josee Tessier welcomed everyone and introduced the refugees to oral hygiene care.  The power point presentation included concepts of biofilm, hard deposits, as well as brushing, proximal surface cleaning options and mouth rinses.  Smoking cessation, nutritional guidance and an introduction to the oral/systemic link were featured. “It’s a good feeling to help the ones that are in need” commented Josee Tessier “I hope that this event is a start for a new path of heath public service. It is a first step in the accessibility to dental hygiene care.” Anila Hasko spoke next, having arrived in Canada 18 years ago as a political refugee.  She identified with the participants and offered her journey as an example of success. “It’s a new dream and I became a successful dental hygienist and I told them never to give up.”

The students were energized, empathetic and enthusiastic to share their knowledge.  Comments included “I would like to THANK YOU for giving me this great opportunity because today was the first day that I was able to use my knowledge to help others” or “I was surprised that very few of them were aware on how to brush.  Most were very attentive and eager to know and learn.”  Josee wrote to the students “The profession of dental hygiene will shine because of YOU.” To facilitate continued oral self-care and inform them of the availability of professional services, the refugees were given a ‘parting gift’ that included a toothbrush and paste, dental floss, mouth rinse, a summary card with oral hygiene reminders and contact information for dental facilities. McGill University and Université de Montréal were recommended for complex dental treatment and three Dental Hygiene colleges (English and French) for preventive treatment.

The Syrian refugees were very appreciative of the professional services provided and repeatedly thanked our students.  It was a memorable event – for everyone!

1

Christine Fambely DH, Cert. in Health Ed., B.A., M.Ed.

christinef@johnabbott.qc.ca

[1] D’Aoust Angie, Oh Canada CDHA Spring 2014 Forging Our Professional Identity p. 11.

Yu Qi Feng and Camille Pigeon have each been awarded a $5000 summer internship research award from the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT)

Yu Qi Feng is an Honours Science student with an interest in Bioengineering and this award will allow her to work in Professor Terry Hébert’s laboratory at McGill University on “The use of conformational biosensors to understand G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling” for 10 weeks this summer.

Camille Pigeon is also a Science student and will be working in Associate Professor Louis Cuccia’s  lab at Concordia University on “The chiral crystallization of strontium formate dehydrate”. This opportunity will allow her to pursue her passion for Chemistry.

Dr. Roberta Šilerová, JAC Chemistry Professor was instrumental in finding the stage locations and assisting the two JAC finalists in putting together their successful applications. Forty-five JAC students responded to the call for this award – the internal application process was coordinated by Teresa Hackett, JAC Research Officer and Joanne Ross, Manager, Program Deans’ Office.

Posters presented by JAC Biopharmaceutical Production Technology faculty and students at 2017 Canadian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences annual conference “From Innovation to Patient Solution”.

Faculty and students from JAC Biopharmaceutical Production Technology participated in the Canadian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences annual conference May 10-12.

Five students presented 3 posters entitled:

1. Formulation and scale-up manufacturing of starch based spray dried microcapsules as drug delivery and taste masking device
2. Influence of physical factors on quality attribute of scored tablets
3. Preparation and characterization of Albumin microcapsules using interfacial cross-linking technique

The projects presented got very interesting responses.

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, May 23, 2017 – The Board of Governors of John Abbott College is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Gordon Brown as the new Academic Dean, effective August 1, 2017.

Mr Brown comes to John Abbott from Champlain College – St. Lawrence in Quebec City. Currently Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs, he spent 20 years teaching Business Administration and Political Science. Over the years, he has served as department and program coordinator, member of the Champlain Board of Governors and member of the campus and college Academic Councils. Earlier in his career, he worked as a Chartered Accountant with the Office of the Auditor General of New Brunswick. Mr. Brown has Bachelor degrees in Engineering and in Political Science from the University of New Brunswick and in Music from Université Laval. He also holds two graduate degrees: a Master of Arts in Political Science from Université Laval and a Master of Business Administration from Queen’s.

“Following the unanimous recommendation from the selection committee and Academic Council, the Board of Governors is thrilled with Mr Brown’s appointment,” says Guylaine Audet, Chair of the Board of Governors. “Gordon’s vast knowledge of Québec’s education system, especially at the CEGEP level, makes him the obvious choice for the job.”

Mr Brown’s appointment follows the retirement of Erich Schmedt, who is stepping down after serving as Academic Dean for eight years. “Many great projects were completed during Erich’s tenure. We thank him for his dedication and wish him well in all his future projects,” added Guylaine Audet.

Julie Caouette (Psychology) is part of a successful team grant application to  FRQSC’s  programme Soutien aux équipes de recherche!  ( FRQSC=  Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture )

This is Julie’s 2^nd research grant within a few weeks.

The title of the team grant project is  «Identité et dysfonction sociale».
The principal investigator of this grant is John Lydon, McGill University.

This research grant runs 4 years: 2017-2018 /2018-2019 / 2019-2020 / 2019-2020.

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Please join us in congratulating Richard Leveille (Geosciences) as he was recently awarded a research grant from the FQRNT’s Programme de recherche pour les chercheurs de collège pour l’exercice 2017‐2018!

The title of Richard’s research project is «Biominéralizations microbiennes des argiles riches en Mg et en Fe».

Richard proposes to include two JAC students to help in this research project!

This grant runs 3 years: 2017-2018, 2018-2019, and 2019-2020.