The journey never ends

Get to know dentistry graduate James Quon.

Cheryl Deslaurier - 11 December 2017

Meet James Quon DDS 2011 alumnus. Quon graduated just a year prior to the School of Dentistry's move out of the Dentistry Pharmacy Building. Although he says that he's glad he missed the chaos of the transformational move, he was in some ways sorry to not be a part of the remarkable change.

"I had mixed feelings about it," he said. "But in the end, I was just focused on getting through school."

Like many in dentistry, Quon followed in his father's footsteps to become a dentist. A big part of this was because when he was growing up, James remembers his father being able to spend the time that he wanted to with his family, which was so important to him. Unlike other careers where there are often so many other pressures between family and work, dentistry is both fulfilling, and balanced.

One of Quon's most memorable moments in dental school was an externship at Harvard. During the summer of 3rd year, he went to Boston, and spent a few weeks immersed with top researchers and clinicians. It was evidence-based dentistry in action, and inspired James to continue his educational journey beyond general practice dentistry.

After graduation, Quon began his GPR in New York, at the Jacobi Medical Center. A DDS 2010 alumnus had shared his incredible experience working there and encouraged James to apply as well. He is so glad he took that advice, as it turned out to be a pivotal time in his journey.

"I was treating inner city people for their dental needs, but they'd keep returning to the hospital sicker than before, because they couldn't afford medication, find a dentist in the community, or even have homes to go to," said Quon. "It made me think about what I was doing, and that there were so many other things that need to happen for people to be healthy."

This is the time that public health came into the picture. In 2015, he completed his Master of Public Health program at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School in Baltimore.

In July 2016 Quon accepted a research position with the German International Development Agency, in a program established by a dentist for the purposes of capacity building in areas such as clean water infrastructure and hygiene, specifically tooth brushing and hand washing. The program partners with the federal education departments of the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia.

Quon's research was a 6-month study on hygiene habit formation. During this time, he worked a lot with local governance - helping them organize and streamline, and distribute water.

After this, Quon decided that although he knew quite a bit about the American health system, it was time to learn more about the Canadian one. He also missed the clinical component of dentistry, and so he decided to work in his father's practice while doing his PhD here at the University of Alberta's School of Public Health.

Quon's ultimate goal is to work in areas that can strengthen the connection between dentistry and other parts of healthcare, and social supports in the community.

"Graduating dental school was never just a finish line for me, but the beginning of a journey I hope never ends."