Volume 8 • 2021 • Issue 1

It’s okay to feel a bit overwhelmed, but you’ve got this! Take it one day at a time, do the best you can and just breathe. Dr. Trudy Nwachukwu Periodontist, PerioCentre, Saskatoon, SK. Dr. Beatrice Leung Prosthodontist at Dr. Beatrice Leung Dentistry, Toronto, ON and assistant professor, faculty of dentistry, University of Toronto. Trying Something New and Being Appreciative For Dr. Beatrice Leung, the pandemic has created several new challenges that she faces on a daily basis. The high price of PPE that she needs in a greater number than ever before. The rescheduling of appointments. Some members of her team had childcare fall through, which affected their availability to work. A new uniform of scrubs and gowns. Lost time. Compassion for Others (and Oneself) Dr. Trudy Nwachukwu, a periodontist in Saskatoon, has spent the past months playing catch-up because of a backlog of appointments and procedures after the closures in spring 2020. Dr. Nwachukwu feels that part of her role is to comfort patients who might feel afraid. “Fear of COVID is tangible and very real,” she says. “When we have a patient that feels afraid, we encourage and reassure them that it’s going to be okay. We are always happy to reassure our patients and show them all the infection control measures in place in our office as recommended by our dental college and Saskatchewan public health.” Dr. Nwachukwu believes that acknowledging difficulties but focusing on the positive helps her flourish, even in challenging times. Limited social interaction has been hard, but she’s grateful for the health of her team. At the end of each week, she’s tired, but she’s glad that her office was open. Dr. Nwachukwu meditates. She listens to music that makes her feel calm and relaxed. “I also spend time listening to uplifting gospel messages,” she says. “And I find talking to my dental colleagues very helpful, because we get to share our experiences and support each other. It’s informal peer support.” As the leader of her team, Dr. Nwachukwumakes sure each member knows how to access voluntary and confidential counselling services, such as the Team Assistance Program in Saskatchewan, which provides mental health support for dental team members. “We support the mental health of those around us by ensuring that we have open lines of communication, as well as showing compassion,” she says. Sometimes, when a team member is overwhelmed, Dr. Nwachukwu finds herself saying, “It’s okay to feel a bit overwhelmed, but you’ve got this! Take it one day at a time, do the best you can and just breathe.” “The extra layers of PPE make it hard to see, hear, talk and breathe, not to mention communicate easily with patients,” she says. Initially, the extra PPE left her dehydrated and exhausted. Outside of work, her kids couldn’t do their regular activities or play with their friends. Virtual activities replaced active and physical ones. “Everything seemed abnormal,” Dr. Leung says. To keep herself resilient, she kept up an exercise regime at home. She read books for enjoyment. She also found solace in her teaching at U of T, which provided a new opportunity for her creatively because it had moved online. She enjoyed coming up with entertaining and engaging materials for her students to learn dentistry without being able to meet in person. To support her dental office staff in Toronto, Dr. Leung starts each morning with a team huddle. They openly discuss the challenges of working during the pandemic. “I try to acknowledge the staff for their efforts,” she says, knowing that being appreciated helps people deal with stress. Dr. Beatrice Leung wearing enhanced PPE. I ssues and P eople 23 Issue 1 | 2021 |