Dr. Lee’s Mentorship Story (Part 3)

And now, Part 2 of Sofia’s mentorship story!

That question became the seed of what is now the Pre-Dental Study Collective.

Learning by Doing: Hands-On Workshops

So far, the Pre-Dental Study Collective has offered a growing lineup of hands-on workshops, including suturing and extractions using pig jaws, practicing composite fillings on study models, and performing occlusal equilibrations on study models.

The sessions are guided by Dr. Lee and designed to be as interactive and practical as possible. Students work in teams, rotate through exercises, and receive real-time feedback. It’s a space where it’s okay not to know everything. You’re encouraged to try, reflect, and grow.

These sessions aren’t demonstrations—they’re active, tactile, and full of moments that shape how you learn. You hold instruments. You make mistakes. You ask, pause, adjust. You learn through doing. These details become the foundation of clinical awareness.

Beyond the Clinical: Empathy and Service

For me, these sessions didn’t just strengthen my manual dexterity—they opened up a new layer of understanding. I began to recognize how dentistry requires not only technical competence, but attunement to the subtleties of each patient’s story. It’s a craft that lives at the intersection of observation and empathy. Early on, Dr. Lee shared with me a quote by Dr. L.D. Pankey that’s stayed with me ever since: “I never saw a tooth walk into my office.” It’s simple, witty, but deeply reflective of his philosophy. Dentistry isn’t just about the clinical—it’s about context, compassion, and treating people, not just teeth. That generous, human-centered approach runs through everything Dr. Lee does. Whether he’s mentoring students, leading dental mission trips abroad, or providing care through outreach here in Ottawa, his commitment is the same: to serve, to teach, and to always give back. The Pre-Dental Study Collective is just one more reflection of that lifelong ethos.

What's Next for the Collective

And we’re just getting started. Looking ahead, we’re excited to sink our teeth into more advanced topics. We’re planning sessions that will explore how to take CR bite records, interpret radiographs, and even understand the fundamentals of dental photography. There’s so much more we hope to offer—more ways to brush up on essential skills and more chances to build a sense of readiness before even stepping into dental school.

We didn’t create the Collective to be a polished program. We simply wanted to fill a gap we knew others felt too. And in doing doing so, we’ve built a space that feels purposeful—shaped by curiosity, a shared commitment to learning, and a momentum that’s just beginning to take root.