In Memoriam

We are sad to share that Karen Gardner, DMD 1992, passed away on March 6, 2025.  
 
Dr. Gardner joined the Faculty as a clinical instructor in 1996, was appointed a full-time clinical assistant professor in 2001 and was promoted to clinical professor in 2015. She was granted Professor Emeritus status, an honourable lifetime recognition of her long service and contribution to the university, in March 2025.

During Dr. Gardner’s clinical professorship, she received a teaching excellence award in 2005 and the Universitas 21 Inaugural Award for Internationalization in 2012. This award recognizes initiatives enhancing global links and relations between research-intensive universities that comprise the U21. Dr. Gardner was honoured for creating a website fostering collaboration, learning and exchange among dental students across three continents.   
 
She was the module coordinator for Integrated General Practice III (2017-2019) and took on administrative roles such as chair of the DMD admission interviews (2013-2019) and director of the integrated care clinic (2015-2017). Dr. Gardner received funding to develop and implement the International Peer Review project for dental students at UBC, the University of Birmingham, the University of Melbourne, Western University College of Dental Medicine, Pomona, California and the University of Hong Kong from 2008 to 2016.   

The Faculty extends its condolences to Dr. Gardner’s family, friends and colleagues.