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dentalcorp members Sharmaine and Gary Powell, founders of Carrington Dental Centre, inside Okanagan College’s dental clinic. Note: photos were taken prior to current health restrictions on masks. (Submitted photo/Okanagan College)
new dental clinic

Gift from dentalcorp to support critical skills shortage

Aug 28, 2021 | 1:00 PM

With shortages of Certified Dental Assistants (CDAs) across Canada, dentalcorp is investing in a local solution with a gift to the Our Students, Your Health campaign.

Canada’s leading and fastest-growing network of dental practices, dentalcorp is giving $35,000 in support of a new dental clinic inside Okanagan College’s Health Sciences Centre in Kelowna . The modern clinic will educate CDAs for the Okanagan and beyond.

“It’s important to our network and our industry as a whole to do our part to foster innovative, best-in-class professional development, particularly among our up-and-coming generation of clinicians,” said Guy Amini, President, dentalcorp. “We know that having the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology under the guidance of industry-leading instructors will continue to attract talented, ambitious individuals to our field and help fill the many current and emerging roles we have available.”

With a network of over 430 practices across Canada, dentalcorp has four clinics in Kelowna and 12 across the Okanagan. dentalcorp’s gift will support a dental operatory and a new panoramic X-ray room for students. Okanagan College has been educating CDAs since the 1970s.

“We are so excited to welcome students to this state-of-the-art clinic in September,” said Joanne Gibbons-Smyth, Chair of Okanagan College’s CDA program.

“Support from organizations like dentalcorp is making it possible for our students to receive a world-class education and fill in-demand roles in our community. Thank you to dentalcorp for investing in students. It’s a gift that pays incredible returns.”

The Okanagan College Foundation is $1 million away from reaching its $5-million fundraising goal for the new Health Sciences Centre. The foundation is inviting businesses and the public to give in support of health-care students and ensure the Centre is equipped for face-to-face learning when students return to campus in the fall.

To learn more, visit www.OurStudentsYourHealth.ca.

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