Susan Sutherland, Class of 8T4

Few people truly understand hospital dentistry. During her 17 years as the dentist-in-chief at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Susan Sutherland has worked to change that. She’s spent her career educating colleagues about the complex work of hospital dentistry and used her profile as a podium to get the word out about important healthcare issues.

Sutherland started out as a nurse, often working in critical care. “By age 20 I was dealing with death on a daily basis,” she says. She went back to school for her nursing degree and then decided to study dentistry, but with a plan. “I knew from day one of dental school I wanted to do a hospital internship and have a hospital-based practice,” she says. She followed her DDS with an internship at Sunnybrook, and by 1986 had a full-time staff position.

As a leader, my approach is that there’s no single approach. It very much depends on context. Sometimes it’s necessary to be very firm and make tough decisions.

In 2003, she was named chief dentist, the second person ever to hold the position, which was created in 1972. During her lengthy tenure, Sutherland saw patient volumes nearly triple. “We’ve seen a big change in the complexity of patients,” she says. 

In 2014, Sutherland and a small group founded the Canadian Association of Hospital Dentists, with her serving as founding president and chair of the board. Now with 60 members, the group runs an annual meeting and does evidence- based work that includes a handout on safe use of opioids after wisdom teeth removal and the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Stewardship.

Sutherland, who also serves as an associate professor at the Faculty, is often called to speak to the media, and writes journal articles and mainstream media stories. 

She has also manifested a fresh leadership style. “As a leader, my approach is that there’s no single approach. It very much depends on context. Sometimes it’s necessary to be very firm and make tough decisions.” 

Sutherland is stepping down from her role this spring. She’ll now focus on research, patients and getting the word out about hospital dentistry and offering the best care possible in a complex setting.

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Photo: Susan Sutherland (Jeff Comber)