I don’t think mentors always show up in our lives with the formal title of mentor. They are people who share their knowledgeandlifeexperiences, andwe only realize later on that they’ve been our guides. When Dr. Fedorowich was first entering the profession, he didn’t have a formal mentorship relationship to lean on. “But I had amazing instructors in dental school who I continued to talk to after I graduated, and a friend who was a wonderfully generous dentist who was recently retired,” he says. “Dr. Bob Glenn farmed during the warmer months and spent time at the dental school during the cold months. I had the luxury of bending his ear, and he had the wisdom to be a good listener. Now I realize that I’ve had several excellent mentors, even though they didn’t have the official title.” “I don’t think mentors always show up in our lives with the formal title of mentor,” says Dr. Sharief. “They are people who share their knowledge and life experiences, and we only realize later on that they’ve been our guides.” Dr. Sharief graduated from dental school in Zimbabwe before being accepted into the University of Manitoba for a qualifying program. “Everyone I met at the U of M took me under their wing and helped me navigate those years of study,” she says. “And I was paired with a mentor who was a rural dentist, Dr. Chris Kiazyk, who invited me to visit his practice to see how it was run. I’ll never forget when I visited his family home and the sense of belonging I felt. Mentorship was life changing for me.” Being a Mentor “I enjoy the time I spend in the company of dental students very much, as an instructor or as a mentor,” says Dr. Fedorowich. “It’s energizing and I feel like I’m getting as much out of it as I’m giving.” “The life-changing support and encouragement that I got from my own mentor motivated me to become one as well,” says Dr. Sharief. “I’m especially excited to work with international students. I created a checklist of what I needed to succeed blending in with a new culture, and I want to the share that knowledge.” Dr. Sharief feels that dentists by nature are givers, not takers. Dentist care for patients, give back to the profession and strengthen their communities. “I’m a dentist Dr. MurrayWhite giving a talk to dental students andmentors in attendance. 23 Issue 6 | 2024 |
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