Fall-Winter 2018/19

Full-Time Faculty Assignments

Dr. Fernanda Almeida

Fernanda Almeida, DDS, MSc, PhD, has been appointed Graduate Advisor. Dr. Almeida is an associate professor in the Department of Oral Health Sciences and Director, Frontier Clinical Research Centre. She undertook her doctoral studies at UBC, and her dental degree and Master of Science degree in Brazil. She currently teaches Dental Radiology in the DMD program, and Obstructive Sleep Apnea to DHDP, DMD and graduate students. Her research focuses on the role of dentistry in the field of sleep medicine and obstructive sleep apnea. In this field, she supervises three PhD students, two post-doctoral fellows and co-supervises two MSc students. She is deeply committed to service in the Faculty, currently acting as a DMD Faculty Advisor, and sitting on the Curriculum and Teaching Effectiveness, Admissions and Research committees.

Dr. Catherine Poh

Catherine Poh, DDS, PhD, FRCD(C), has been appointed acting program director for the Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology (OMOP) residency program. Dr. Poh is a professor in the Department of Oral Biological & Medical Sciences, and a senior clinician scientist at the BC Cancer Agency Research Centre. She completed her DDS degree at the National Taiwan University, and earned her PhD in Oral Biology and Medical Sciences at UBC. She is a dual certified oral pathologist in Canada and the United States, and is one of the two practising oral maxillofacial pathologists in BC. Additionally, she is the provincial Oral Medicine Practice Leader at the BC Cancer Agency and the Oral Dysplasia Clinics at Vancouver General Hospital. Her primary research focus involves application of molecular and imaging tools for community screening, early detection, risk assessment and management of cancerous and precancerous oral lesions. In addition to her extensive work the in community, she has been dedicated to teaching undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students throughout her career, and currently serves as a Faculty of Dentistry representative on the UBC Vancouver Senate.

Dr. Clive Roberts

Clive Roberts, BA, MA, PhD, has been appointed acting director of Graduate Studies. Dr. Roberts is an associate professor in the Department of Oral Biological & Medical Sciences. A graduate advisor at UBC Dentistry since 2010, he has supervised more than 20 graduate students (MSc, PhD) or postdoctoral fellows in Experimental Medicine/Dentistry.

Dr. Eli Whitney

Eli Whitney, DDS, FRCD(C), has been appointed acting DMD curriculum director. Dr. Whitney is a senior instructor in the Department of Oral Biological & Medical Sciences, and an oral medicine and pathology specialist who has served as the program director for the UBC Faculty of Dentistry Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology Residency Program. He earned his BSc and DDS degrees from the University of Alberta. He went on to practice general dentistry for three years in Edmonton, and then proceeded to join the University of Alberta, Faculty of Dentistry, as a full-time teaching fellow in oral diagnosis. He then undertook four years of specialty training in oral medicine and pathology here at the University of British Columbia and was awarded two certificates in Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology in June 2004. Subsequently, he was awarded Fellowship in the Royal College of Dentists of Canada (FRCD(C)) in Oral Medicine and Pathology in 2005. In addition to his work within UBC’s Faculty of Dentistry, Whitney has been providing a great number of services to the community. In 2004, he was appointed to the Vancouver General Hospital medical staff and has been treating patients with oral mucosal disorders, facial pain and temporomandibular disorders since then in VGH’s Department of Dentistry. Additionally, from 2011-2015, he served as the Director of the VGH Orofacial Pain Program, and has also been providing Oral Medicine and Pathology care to patients at the Mary Pack Arthritis Centre since 2011.

Clinical Faculty Promotions

Jodi Ekk

Jodi Ekk, RDH, PID, BHSc (candidate), has been promoted to the rank of clinical assistant professor in the Department of Oral Biological & Medical Sciences. She started at UBC Dentistry in the dental radiology team three years ago and quickly mastered the instruction of oral maxillofacial radiology (OMFR). Soon after she excelled at instructing cone-beam computed tomography and by the end of her first year her duties also included the teaching of the electronic patient record aspects of OMFR to undergraduate and graduate students. she is a graduate of Vancouver Community College where she earned a certificate in dental assisting (2002), a diploma in dental hygiene (2011) and a diploma in instructor education (2016). She is currently enrolled at Thompson Rivers University undertaking a Bachelor of Health Science degree. She is well respected by students and faculty and for the 2016-2017 academic year won a full-time faculty teaching award.

Dr. Ingrid Emanuels

Ingrid Emanuels, BSc, DMD, SoTLHE (Fac Cert), FACD, has been promoted to the rank of clinical professor in the Department of Oral Health Sciences. Dr. Emanuels started in the Faculty of Dentistry in 2005 as a clinical instructor and since then, over 13 years, has given outstanding contributions as a conscientious leader, skilled clinician and gifted dental educator. She has acted in various leadership roles which include being a faculty advisor, clinical advisor, module coordinator, lecturer, clinical instructor and PBL tutor. She actively participated in innovative curriculum development (specifically in operative/restorative dentistry and practice management), and more recently in the development of a course shell template in the CANVAS Learning Management System. She has served as member of the DMD Curriculum and Teaching Effectiveness Committee (CTEC) and the CTEC Assessment and Education Technology Subcommittee. In all her activities her contributions are significant and have been done with outstanding dedication and excellence. Emanuels is a UBC graduate earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1976 and a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree in 1980. In 2007 she completed UBC’s Faculty Certificate Program on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. In 2015 she was inducted as a Fellow in the American College of Dentists. She has been honoured three times with part-time teaching awards in the Faculty of Dentistry, in 2012, 2013, and 2017.