黄色直播

In Cara Tax鈥檚 eyes, there is a solution to every problem if you reflect on it carefully. 鈥淥ne thing I have learned with aging is patience; we all need to be more patient. We must allow things to happen and move forward with even strides.鈥�

It is with patience and even strides that Cara moves forward into retirement, after a successful 44-year career that didn鈥檛 unfold quite as she planned. 鈥淲hen I first went into dental hygiene in the early 1970s, I wanted a quick job I could do for five years before I turned my attention to having a family.鈥�

Soon after graduating with a Diploma in Dental Hygiene from the University of Manitoba, Cara began teaching. The profession looked much different than the one we know today. Then, gloves and masks were not commonplace and hygienists were required to wear clinic uniforms consisting of skirts and white sneakers while sitting strictly in a 7 o鈥檆lock position while treating patients.

Cara explains that she has seen many positive changes in the profession since. 鈥淚 think for some time dentistry and dental hygiene were at odds with one another and now I see that we are collectively breaking down those silos in the interest of more collaborative care for our patients.鈥�

Cara was recently instrumental in the implementation of the group practice model for Faculty of Dentistry students this past September which sees dental hygiene and dentistry students treating their patient family together, similar to the private practice model. 聽

Open to new experiences and new paths

鈥淥ver the years, opportunities have come to me because I was continually open to new experiences.鈥� Cara says. Allowing life to unfold as it should has guided how she approaches new challenges. 聽

One such challenge included making the decision to return to school in 2005 at the age of 50 to complete a master鈥檚 degree in education.

鈥淚鈥檝e always felt that one part of my life was left unfulfilled.鈥� Cara says. 鈥淚t was one of the best things I鈥檝e done.鈥� Her decision was very much in line with one of Cara鈥檚 favourite phrases 鈥� it鈥檚 never too late. And it was not too late in 2018 when she was appointed director of the School of Dental Hygiene.

Professor Tax, as she鈥檚 known to her students, has made many significant contributions to the School and the Faculty, including introducing a teaching methodologies course to inspire students to become instructors. She has led the dental hygiene faculty in renewal of the clinical curriculum, emphasizing a focus on patient care rather than evaluation requirements. Cara has been a long- time supporter of outreach and service learning opportunities.

Cara鈥檚 career may not have taken the path she initially expected, but it is one that will have a lasting impact on her many students and the Faculty of Dentistry at 黄色直播 for many years to come.