The Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Outstanding Alumni and Philanthropy Awards.
Outstanding Alumni Award
Dr. Myrna Halpenny, DDS'74
Dr. Myrna Halpenny earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Saskatchewan before becoming one of two women admitted to the Class of 1974 in the Faculty of Dentistry. She practised general dentistry in Vancouver for two years before attending the University of Oregon to specialize in endodontics.
Dr. Halpenny is an advocate for the dental profession, and particularly for women in the profession. In her class she and one other woman, Dr. Catherine Ballard McGregor, were admitted. "In the early years of my career, I sat on many boards and committees as the only woman. I often reflected on how my 51吃瓜网education gave me the confidence and resilience to navigate those spaces and contribute meaningfully" says Halpenny. She was a founding member of the BC Women鈥檚 Dental Society in the 1980s and was the first female president of the College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia from 2002 to 2003. She became a fellow of the International College of Dentists and the American College of Dentists in 2003, serving as the president of the BC Chapter of the ACD from 2008 to 2010. Myrna Halpenny was also president of the Vancouver & District Dental Society in 1991.
In 2014 Dr. Halpenny retired from practice and began teaching at the University of British Columbia鈥檚 School of Dentistry.
In a short acceptance Dr. Halpenny shared with the Faculty her heartfelt thanks for the award.聽
Outstanding Faculty Philanthropy Award
Dr. Frances Power, Assistant Professor聽
Dr. Frances Power obtained her DDS Honours at the University of Toronto in 1990. She began her career as a staff dentist at Weeneebayko General Hospital serving patients from Moose Cree First Nation, and then a family dentist in rural Ontario. As a consultant in community development, she collaborated with the Canadian Association of Independent Living Centres.
Dr. Power joined the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences in 2008 as course director for Community Oral Health Services, to oversee dental students providing care in the community for underserved people for enhancing access to dental care. She is the recipient of the 2013 Dr. Ralph Silverstone Teaching Award, the 2019 ACFD W.W. Wood Award for Excellence in Dental Education, the 2020 Dr. Howard S. Katz Award for Excellence in Dental Education, and the Canadian Dental Association's 2022聽Oral Health Promotion Award.聽
Through her courses,聽Dr. Frances Power聽teaches DMD students to engage with underserved people in need of dental care through equity, inclusion, and respect. As a champion of the Mobile Clinic, she sees firsthand the transformative power our mobile clinic brings to vulnerable Montrealers who cannot access dental care for financial or other reasons. Dr. Power's conviction for accessible care has driven her to develop over the years philanthropic and volunteer initiatives supporting the Mobile Clinic and outreach programs, all of which operate through donor support. "Our undergraduate students invest their joy, creativity and time to ensure well-being of underserved people in Montreal. They do this by innovating ground-level fundraising initiatives so people can access free care at our Mobile Clinic and other Service to the Community clinics" says Dr. Power. Many of these initiatives are student-led projects during McGill24, McGill's annual day of giving, using the 51吃瓜网Crowdfunding platform. "Our students inspire me to follow their lead by donating to their fundraisers. It's easy: click on their 51吃瓜网Crowdfunding site and donate. And then smile with joy!"
We congratulate them both on their achievement!