CDA Essentials 2019 • Volume 6 • Issue 3

13 Issue 3 | 2019 | CDA at W ork Capturing the Moments... Skydiving for AboutFace’s “Leap of Faith” fundraiser. Son Randy graduates from dental school. Whitewater rafting in Jasper, AB. Dr. Mutchmor as a dental school graduate. Nancy and Sandy at the ICD Induction Ceremony in Saskatoon, SK. Fishing at the cabin on Lake of the Woods. With his two sons, 1992. Hiking in Kananaskis, AB. CDA Council on Student Affairs, 1981-82 (Sandy is back row, far left) His first practice in Fort Frances, ON, 1983. Sturgeon fishing on the Fraser River. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 For Dr. Mutchmor, staying connected is about more than social support. “I think informal interactions are a really important part of having a well-rounded education,” he says. It’s one of the reasons Dr. Mutchmor went on to be a lab demonstrator in the second-year crown and bridge lab at the University of Manitoba faculty of dentistry, a role he held for 8 years. “I really enjoyed being back in touch with students and academics and having a circle of people you can bounce things off,” he says. He applauds the University of Manitoba’s Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry for its student mentorship program but recognizes that more can be done to guide all recent graduates as they start their careers. In its 2018 report, the CDA National Task Force on the Future of the Profession recommended that the dental profession establish a formalized mentorship program to “facilitate the transition into professional practice and to encourage lifelong learning.” Finding balance Dr. Mutchmor also keeps busy outside of the office. Although he gave up his pilot’s license a number of years ago and doesn’t scuba dive as much as he used to, he is a self- described “putterer” who loves pastimes as varied as fishing, woodworking, knitting and just about anything that gets him outdoors. Someday, when he has more time, he plans to build a cedar strip canoe. To his sons and other dentists who are just starting out, he emphasizes the value of maintaining a balanced life. “Since the first day I started practising, I have taken time to go home every day for lunch. I think it’s really important to keep that balance for my own mental health,” he says. “We are in a very fortunate profession in that as long as we always look after our patient’s best interests, our practice will do just fine.” a 11 4 10 9 11