Dr. Paul Major’s parents made sure their six kids went to the dentist regularly, but when he was a teenager, his mother found out she needed major dental work.
It was going to cost more than the family could afford on a millwright’s income. So she decided to seek care at the University of Alberta’s dental clinic, where students work under the direct supervision of licensed practitioners.
“She needed extensive restorative treatment, a lot of crowns and some bridges — work that would be worth $20,000 or $30,000 today,” Major recalls. “It was the U of A that allowed her to maintain her dental health for her entire lifetime.”
The family’s experience was so positive that Major chose to enrol in dental school himself.
Today, the clinic his mother attended was named the Paul Major Oral Health Clinic in recognition of his many contributions to dental education at the U of A.
Major has been a professor in the Mike Petryk School of Dentistry for more than 35 years, and served for the past 15 years as chair of the school and senior associate dean of dental affairs in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry.
He and his wife, Elly Major, have also made significant financial donations over the years and have committed a total of $2.5 million to support the school.
“Dedicated naming is the highest form of recognition for a gift of this scale,” says new chair and senior associate dean of dental affairs, Dr. Leigha Rock, who started in August. “It ensures that as our students learn and our community heals, the vision behind this gift remains permanently woven into the fabric of everything we achieve here.”
Foundational skills and more
Dental education started at the University of Alberta in 1917 and the first student clinic had just seven chairs. It now has 134, and more than 21,000 patients receive care each year at its current location in the Kaye Edmonton Clinic. Students learn foundational skills from diagnosis to treatment planning, delivery of dental care and communication skills. Patients receive top-notch care.
“It’s very well equipped and is the envy of dental clinics at schools in Canada,” says Major. “Most of those patients really couldn’t afford to get the care they’re getting if they had to pay a private dentist for it.”
One such patient is Joan Ditlof, who has been receiving care at the clinic since 2008, from regular cleanings to a root canal.
“The clinic staff, faculty and students treat you like a family member,” Ditlof explains. She describes a level of care so gentle and attentive that she can close her eyes and remain completely relaxed, knowing she is in expert hands.
Joan Ditlof is one of 15,000 community members who receive student care at the newly named Paul Major Oral Health Clinic each year. (Photo: Curtis Comeau Photography)
The Paul Major Oral Health Clinic is one of several accessible community dental programs the U of A offers, including Access for All, a student-led initiative that provides care to Métis communities across Alberta; Northern Satellite teaching clinics in High Level, La Crete and McLennan; and dental clinics at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital and Radius Community Health and Healing.
“What makes our school exceptional comes down to two core values: educational excellence and an unshakeable commitment to our community,” says Rock. “The Paul Major Oral Health Clinic sits right at the intersection of both — it is where our students transform into skilled, compassionate healthcare professionals, and where thousands of Albertans receive essential, high-quality care every year.”
Making a difference through philanthropy
The programs for underserved populations are just one of the reasons donors are motivated to give to dentistry at the U of A, Major points out. They also want to provide students with financial assistance and to support research.
“It’s about making a difference through philanthropy,” Major explains, noting that while the government and individual students pay for the basic competency level of education, generous donors allow for the extras that enrich the program.
“I have been giving all along because I’m very passionate about dental education,” he says. “Dentistry has been my whole career, and I’ve done very well thanks to my education. There is capacity for me to give, and I’m so happy to support the next generation.”
Major is proud of the school’s scholastic and fundraising efforts during his tenure. He estimates $25 million was raised over 15 years, and the school is now ranked second in Canada and 73rd in the world.
People love their smiles
Major completed his doctorate in dental surgery in 1980, and an MSc degree and orthodontic specialty training in 1988. He joined the faculty at the U of A in 1989. He also started a private dental practice and continues to work one day a week as an orthodontist. All three of his grown sons are U of A graduates as well.
“Dentistry has been an amazing career for me,” Major says. “There’s a mechanical side to delivery of patient care, but ultimately success as a practising dentist is how well you communicate with patients.”
Major figures he’s probably trained a quarter of the orthodontists in Canada. He loves the specialty because patients are always happy with the outcomes of treatment.
“People love their smiles, so it’s very rewarding in that sense.”
He’s found even more satisfaction as an educator and leader at the U of A.
“I love the intellectual stimulation of the university environment,” Major states. “It’s really about the joy of seeing the people you’re working with grow, sometimes exceeding their own expectations, and this is not just students but also staff.”
As he steps down from his leadership role, Major will take a year of administrative leave before returning to teaching. But he will continue to supervise graduate students, carry out his own research projects and lead Bridge Training to Dental Practice in Canada, a national pilot program that helps international graduates qualify to practice in Canada.