Alayna Alambra
Dental student, Unviersity of Manitoba
I was born/grew up in: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
I now live in: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
I completed my training/education at: University of Winnipeg for B.Sc., University of Manitoba, Dental School
Describe what you do at work.
As a dental student, I usually spend around attend class from 8am-5pm. During this time I’m learning the material required for dentistry or I’m in the lab learning the practical skills and knowledge. The first year focuses on teaching you the basics of the hands on aspect of dentistry. You also learn the biology of how the face and teeth develop. You also learn the anatomy of the teeth, head and neck among other things.
When I was a student I enjoyed:
How does your job affect people’s lives?
Oral health is an important aspect in overall health and wellness. So as a future dentist, I play an important role in the wellbeing of patients.
What motivates you in your career?
The most interesting part of dentistry for me is the hands on aspect. Being able to go in the lab and work on practice teeth before we get to work on real patients in the clinic in our second year is the most fun.
When I was a student, I would have described myself as someone who:
Describe your career path to this career.
I knew that I wanted to be a dentist from a young age and so I took all of the requirements that were needed in dentistry from the beginning. In high school, I took biology, chemistry, physics and pre-calculus. I also had the opportunity to job shadow a dentist for a week while I was in high school. This solidified my choice of dentistry as a career. In undergrad, I took the pre-requisites for dentistry such as biology, chemistry, physics, organic chemistry, and biochemistry. Upon taking these courses as well as the Dental Aptitude Test, I was able to apply into dentistry, get an interview, and then be accepted into the Faculty.
What activities do you like to do outside of work?
In my free time I like to travel, stay active, listen to music, and spend time with family and friends.
What advice or encouragement would you give others seeking a similar career?
Talk to students or professionals in your chosen career to get as much exposure as you can to what the profession is really like. This will help you decide if it is something you really want to do.