Gratitude for Giving
By Rachel Boutet
During a month where many give thanks, Lauren Lin 1T8 reflects on her gratitude for the support she received at the Faculty of Dentistry.
In 2016, Lin received the Margaret and Clifford Zettle Award, established by Dr. Katherine Zettle 8T7 MSc Paed 95. It is awarded to a full-time undergraduate student (or students) on the basis of financial need, academic merit and interest in treating patients with disabilities/medical complexities.
Receiving the award allowed Lin to do a summer placement at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (TRI), an experience she found enriching and unforgettable.
“I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to work at Toronto Rehab with such a talented and caring dental team,” she says. “It really opened my eyes to how we can treat a wider variety of patients without the need for extensive changes to the infrastructure and technology of the clinic. I learned to incorporate more flexibility and creativity into the skills I’d been forming at the Faculty – and this is something I’ve found immensely helpful in daily practice to this day.”
The funding and support from the Zettle Award allowed Lin to work at TRI without any extra financial stress, a concern for many students at the Faculty. She says she’s so appreciative of the generous donation from the donor for making this possible.
“Receiving this award also made me feel grateful for the recognition of wanting to help patients with complex needs and foster an inclusive practice philosophy,” she says. “Patient management skills sometimes get overshadowed by academic and technical skills in dentistry, but all three are incredibly important to have as a dentist. After all, we’re treating people, not teeth.”
“Receiving this award also made me feel grateful for the recognition of wanting to help patients with complex needs and foster an inclusive practice philosophy”
Lin reflects on the time she spent at the Faculty of Dentistry, noting it helped prepare her for life after school, working in private practice. She says one of the biggest things she learned at U of T outside of technical skills was perseverance.
“Dental school was quite the journey, and I can’t even imagine how much harder the journey must be for students during this pandemic,” she says. “But dental students are a tough bunch, and I know that the tougher the challenges, the more perseverance these guys will develop, making them even better equipped for the future.”
As for other ways the Faculty of Dentistry and TRI experience helped prepare Lin for life beyond the classroom?
“They taught me how to have a lot of patience with patients,” she says with a laugh. “And that patience helps me maintain good relations among staff and colleagues as well.”
She notes this is especially important when it comes to dealing with patients who have dental anxiety, of which there are many in private practice.
“Spending the extra time to acknowledge and manage each patient’s anxieties and unique conditions, and seeing their growth in confidence as we progress through their treatment is truly rewarding,” Lin says. “The patients in turn are grateful – I guess you could say it’s my way of paying the gratefulness forward.”
Photo: Lauren Lin (Harriet and Rosalind Law 1T9)