Alumni weekend: A Century of Stories Sept. 23

Free public lecture marks 100 years of dentistry history, medical milestones and 'Canadian firsts' achieved at the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry.

Shelby Soke - 18 September 2017

Sink your teeth into more than 100 years of dental and medical history at a special Alumni Weekend edition of the Dean's Lecture Series. This free event features the University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry's historian Amy Samson, a PhD in Canadian medical history and Taylor Lambert, an award-winning journalist who recently published Roots: Extracted Tales from a Century of Dentistry at the University of Alberta.


The public lecture is part of the annual Alumni Weekend celebrations on campus and offers alumni across generations the opportunity to connect with each other and their shared history.


"Alumni have likely worked with or been taught by some of the people we're highlighting, so it should be really interesting to make connections between the past and the present," said Samson.


Samson will be discussing the legacy of the Rockefeller endowment and how it has shaped and propelled the U of A medical school's research programs and innovations, such as supporting medical giant John Callaghan who went on to perform Canada's first successful open heart surgery 61 years ago this September.


Lambert has spent the last year digging into the history of the School of Dentistry to write a book celebrating its centennial. His book Roots: Extracted Tales from a Century of Dentistry at the University of Alberta will be available to purchase at the lecture.


"The history of how dentistry as a profession progressed from this kind of barbaric practice to what it is today is fascinating," said Lambert. "The history of the School itself is also very impactful. It played a significant role in Edmonton's history and the people that helped to establish it had some pretty incredible stories."


On Sunday, September 24, both Samson and Lambert appear at the University of Alberta's Canada 150 Community Celebration at South Campus. This is a free, all-ages event featuring the grand opening of the U of A's newest green space, the Evergreen Pond and Circle with a full day of family-friendly activities and programming, including kite making, colouring, bubble blowing, food trucks, a farmer's market and live performances. More information can be found at uab.ca/150 .

Event details:

A Century of Stories: The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry

Featuring Amy Samson, PhD, and Taylor Lambert

Saturday, September 23, 2017

Admission is free. Everyone is welcome.

10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Bernard Snell Hall Theatre

University of Alberta Hospital

8440 - 112 Street, Edmonton


Canada 150 Community Celebration

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Admission is free. Everyone is welcome.

11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

South Campus (118 Street and 63 Avenue)

No parking on-site except for parking for people with disabilities.
Park & Rides: Complimentary parking and shuttle service available from North Campus on September 24. The shuttle will leave from Windsor Carpark, and will run between North and South campus every 15 minutes from 10:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Free LRT: This complimentary service will run between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., only from North Campus to South Campus.