From Thunder Bay to Toronto: Dentistry and mentorship in Northern communities
Braedan Prete (2T2), a second-year periodontics resident, vividly remembers the adjustment from his hometown of Thunder Bay to the bustling city of Toronto over six years ago.
Up until that point, Prete spent his entire life in Thunder Bay, a beautiful city on Lake Superior in Northwestern Ontario, where he studied at Lakehead University.
Known as the “Hub of the North”, Thunder Bay services plenty of surrounding areas and Indigenous communities. There is a lot to offer which appeals to a variety of interests and personalities.
“It’s more than just nature and scenery; there is a booming business district and restaurants scene, it’s home to world-class academics, intellectuals, artists, writers, athletes, musicians, and more.” says Prete.
“When I was younger, I never planned to leave Thunder Bay. But at some point, in my journey, I realized that I had to move away to be able to grow and fulfill my dream of becoming a periodontist.”
Embracing change
For many first-year students, moving to Toronto can be a big transition. “It was a bit of a culture shock in many ways, going from having trees and the Nor’Wester mountains surrounding you to tall skyscrapers.”
He faced some growing pains at the beginning, trying to find his place. It was important for Prete to find his own community. “It took a while to adjust to life in the city.”
Joining the Dental Hockey Club made the transition easier for Prete. “It really helped me personally; it broke the ice for me for getting into school and bonding with the upper years.”
“The initial challenges I went through were very rewarding in the end, they allowed me to learn a lot about myself.”
Aside from the Dental Hockey Club, Prete’s friends and classmates became like a second family to him over the years. He continues to maintain close connections with them.
On top of adjusting to new surroundings, Prete, like many others, also needed to adapt to the pace of work from undergraduate studies to dental school.
At the same time, there was a feeling of pride in having made it into a top university in the world. The admittance rate to University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry is fourteen per cent. Out of the 676 applications that year, only 95 students got accepted to the Doctor of Dental Surgery program.
Discovering opportunities in Northern communities
Prete thinks that for some, there is a lack of awareness about Northern communities. He shared that many of his classmates confused his native Thunder Bay (a 15-hour drive from Toronto), with North Bay.
"I think that Northern communities get less recognition. Ontario is a big province; there are many opportunities beyond the GTA. I would encourage you to explore what Northern Ontario has to offer."
“It’s important for Northwestern Ontario students to have mentors show them what’s possible.”
It’s important for dentists looking for new opportunities in Ontario to be prepared to step out of their comfort zone. In fact, there is a strong need for dentists and specialists in Northern communities.
“Thunder Bay offers great work life balance. The community is warm, and people are very friendly.” says Prete.
Prete encourages dentists to explore opportunities in Northern Ontario. He has presented at the Lakehead University Applied Life Sciences Club’s professional school lecture series over the last three years. These types of events give undergraduate students exposure to different opportunities that exist at professional schools. “It’s important for Northwestern Ontario students to have mentors show them what’s possible.”