Wade Abbott gives back to dentistry
With a desire to help people, Wade Abbott (DDS,’05) knew he was in the right place when he began Dal’s Dentistry program over 16 years ago. To this day, his motivation to make an impact fuels both his professional and personal life.
Inspired by his formative years as a dentistry student, Dr. Abbott is ensuring that future generations of students have access to the best clinical learning environment to better prepare them for their professional careers. He has generously given $25,000 to invest in a cubicle for the Dental Clinic Renewal campaign. The clinic currently houses 148 individual dental cubicles, which are assigned to student teams for their dedicated use during the academic year. The cubicles are crucial to giving first and second-year dental students as well as hygiene students pre-clinical and patient care experiences.
“Dal Dentistry gave me a lot, so it feels good to be able to help the next generation of students,” says Dr. Abbott. And it’s that appreciation which was the major motivation behind his gift. “Our instructors gave us the real-life picture of what it would be like after school. Having the opportunity to see patients early on during my second year was invaluable,” recalls Dr. Abbott. “By graduation, I had gained more confidence in treating patients, as my instructors were there to guide me and my peers provided additional support.”
Today, Dr. Abbott runs his own practice, Wade Abbott Dentistry and Associates, in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland. He recently opened a small clinic in an underserved area about an hour outside of the city. “Giving back to the community was a big part of my education at Dal. We did outreach work in underserved communities to treat children and adults who couldn’t access proper services,” says Dr. Abbott. “Helping people who don’t have access to adequate dental care inspires me.”
“I still feel like I am a part of the fabric and culture of Dal Dentistry, so supporting this campaign is a natural fit,” says Dr. Abbott. “The new spaces will elevate the expectation for students coming out of school, as they will gain access to the best equipment and technology. I hope this will inspire new grads to seek out innovative solutions within their own dental practices.”