Oral health researcher: a viable career option.

Encouraging individuals to pursue a career in oral health research is crucial if the Canadian dental profession wishes to continue moving its collective knowledge base forward. As dentistry increasingly moves toward an evidence-based model of delivery of care, members of the profession must engage in cutting-edge research. While the oral health research community in � Canada has rightfully earned a strong international reputation as a leader in a variety of disciplines, financial and human resource challenges are gathering on the horizon. JCDA interviewed 4 individuals currently involved in oral health research in Canada. All are excited and passionate about their chosen fields of specialty. Corey Felix is completing his DDS at Dalhousie University and is a research assistant under the guidance of Dr. Richard Price. Dr. Michael Glogauer is a professor with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Group in Matrix Dynamics at the University of Toronto. Dr. Lewei Zhang is a professor in oral biological and medical sciences and a pathologist in the department of laboratory medicine and pathology at the University of British Columbia. Finally, Dr. Gilles Lavigne is a professor in dentistry and physiology at the University of Montreal, co-director of the Quebec Pain Research Network of the FRSQ (Quebec’s public health research fund) and president of the Canadian Sleep Society. All 4 researchers come from a diverse range of specialties and are at various stages of the traditional research career. They all agree that becoming a researcher is often not a priority for most dental students, whose first thought is to become a dentist and find viable employment in their chosen profession. Most times, a research career isn’t even considered an option. In that sense, Corey Felix is a bit of an anomaly — while still working toward his dental degree, he’s already participated in a number of research projects. No doubt he has that inquisitive nature that Dr. Lewei Zhang sees as a prerequisite for pursuing research: “Research is a great career for people who love problem solving,” she says. “You get chances to ask interesting and important questions, and design studies to search for answers to these questions. It is rewarding to achieve some of the answers, particularly when they can make a difference in people’s lives.” Corey Felix was bitten by the research bug early in his studies, but for others, research is an interest that develops over time. The research road not taken early on in a dental career may suddenly intersect with the clinical practice path. That was the case for Dr. Gilles Lavigne. He recalls how, after establishing a private family practice for 3 years, his work with patients was raising more questions than answers. “I quickly realized that when I was observing patients with pain or discomfort, such as abnormal swallowing, I just didn’t have the necessary answers,” he explains. “I had always been a curious person so I decided to get involved in research to try to find the answers.” Choosing the research laboratory doesn’t mean abandoning the practice setting. In fact, for Dr. Michael Glogauer, the dual roles of clinician and researcher keep his career interesting. “I really enjoy the balance of being both a researcher and clinician,” he says. “Being a researcher makes me a better Corey Felix, BSc (Hon), MSc, DDS (4th year)