Meet the ADF Board:
Dr. Tobias Meiszinger – President
Dr. Tobias Meiszinger graduated from dental school at McGill in 2014 and came to Calgary for a 1-year GPR program at the Foothills Hospital. Since 2015 Tobias has enjoyed working in the same private practice as an associate, and has also worked with AHS casually at two public dental clinics. Tobias is newly married and enjoys staying active in his down time, especially if that involves hiking up a mountain with his adventurous wife.
Dr. Patricia Allewell – Director
Dr. Patricia Allewell has been actively involved in the dental community since her graduation from the University of Saskatchewan, Faculty of Dentistry in 1986. In 1993, she received an MBA from the University of Alberta, Faculty of Business.
Dr. Allewell practiced general dentistry in Edmonton for over 20 years. She was the Alberta Regional Dental Officer for Health Canada for five years, and currently enjoys working as a dental consultant in the insurance industry. Her extensive experience includes: executive with Edmonton District Dental Society; Chair of the First Nations and Inuit Health – Oral Health Human Resources Strategy in 2009; past Chair for Edmonton’s Festival of Trees; and previous Chair of the Lillian Osborne School Council.
Dr. Trudy Aucoin – Director
Trudy graduated from the University of Alberta, Faculty of Dentistry in 1989. Along with her husband and partner, Blaine, they relocated to Hinton, Alberta after graduation and managed a dental practice there for 25 years.
Trudy joined the University of Alberta, School of Dentistry team in 2009 as a full-time clinical
instructor. She is the Comprehensive Care Director and DDS 565-2 Course Coordinator. She has enjoyed being involved in the development of the new Curriculum and will be the DDS IV Course Director. She loves this challenge and cherishes the opportunity to work with students and the dental team. She’s inspired and motivated by their dedication and hard work.
Trudy is in Private Practice one day per week and continues to enjoy the challenge. She feels it is very rewarding with a dedicated team and she cherishes the patient experiences.
Dr. Heidi Rabie – Director
Heidi is a dentist who graduated from the University of Montreal in 1998. After a decade of work in private practice, she found her niche passion working in an inner city dental clinic. She has worked there since 2008 and, despite the challenges and the limitations, greatly enjoys serving the vulnerable population. She is delighted that the ADA&C had the brilliant idea to create a Foundation to help dentists and dental professionals stand together for the plight of low income Albertans who have limited access to dental care. Heidi is proud to donate her time to this cause. As a profession, dentists are generous, donating and traveling abroad to provide services to the needy. Local Alberta communities need us too, and we always heed the call. This is the opportunity to do so together, as a profession.
Heidi is mom to a handsome (mom says so) young man who is pursuing the first year of his university adventure online, much to his dismay. Heidi also has a dependent of the furry feline variety. When she’s not working in someone’s mouth, or on an access to care committee, Heidi loves to travel to exotic destinations, and to walk and hike our gorgeous Alberta landscapes.
Dr. Jenny Doerksen – Director
I was born in South Korea, and moved to Southern Alberta, Canada when I was a middle school student to start a new chapter of my life. I completed my Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry at the University of Lethbridge. I further expanded my education with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree at the University of Alberta in 2009. Upon graduation, I have worked in Lethbridge, Calgary and Red Deer. My husband and I volunteered in Nicaragua with Dentistry for All in 2015. I enjoy my job as a dentist to improve people’s smiles, oral health, and confidence. When I am not practicing my passion of dentistry, I spend most of my time with my lovely family and friends playing tennis, travelling, hiking, and crocheting. I am an avid believer of lifelong education; I am currently learning how to speak French as well as tap dance.
Dr. Catherine Lee – Director
Catherine completed her dental school training at the University of Pennsylvania in 2018. She immediately went on to pursue her specialty in pediatric dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania/Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She is currently completing her Master’s in Education through the University of Alberta.
Catherine spends most of her time in private practice in Edmonton. She is also a Clinical Lecturer at the University of Alberta, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Catherine is excited to be part of the ADF team, and can’t wait to see how we can help out those in need.
In her spare time, Catherine loves to read, eat, and spend time with her husband.
Dana Rozema – Director
Dana has a B.Sc. and a M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering, and she is currently working on an MBA with a specialization in Finance, all from the University of Alberta. She was born and raised in Fort McMurray, where she grew up in her parent’s Optometry clinic. She has since moved to Edmonton, where she works at an oil and gas refinery producing gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.
The communities in Alberta have uplifted and supported Dana throughout her life and she endeavours to give back to the community and empower others through her volunteerism. She enjoys spending her free time with her husband hiking, running, reading, and on various hobbies (the most recent of which is learning how to woodwork).
Meet the ADF Student Representatives:
Adam McCourt
Adam McCourt is a third-year dental student at the University of Alberta. He was born in High Level, Alberta and moved to Drayton Valley at a young age. Having grown up in a small town, Adam enjoys its sense of community as well as the responsibility that the health care providers hold. He plans on returning to a rural location upon graduation to start a career and family. For the last two years Adam has been the co-chair for the SHINE Golf Tournament, a yearly fundraising event that serves as the sole source of annual funding for the SHINE Dental Clinic which is a student run clinic that provides free dental care to Edmonton’s vulnerable populations. He loves meeting new people and supporting great causes, so he jumps on any opportunity that allows those two things to intersect! Adam is excited to join the Alberta Dental Foundation as a Student Representative and hopes he can use both his experiences growing up in a small town and fundraising to help improve access to oral health care for Albertans.
Janice Choi
Janice Choi is a third-year dental student at the University of Alberta. She grew up in Dawson Creek, BC and Red Deer, AB before moving to Edmonton for her undergraduate studies. Janice is currently SHINE Dentistry’s co-chair and formerly the secretary. SHINE is an organization where students, under supervision, provide free dental care for the underserved community. She also developed a passion for sustainability and reducing fast fashion, which motivated her to volunteer at “More Than a Fad” thrift store in her spare time. There, Janice cleans the store and prices donations where profits will go towards Adeara Recovery Centre – a residential recovery centre for women and their children in Alberta. Through these volunteer experiences, Janice wants to work to identify vulnerable populations and determine how to serve their needs, including how to provide better access to dental care and education. Janice is thrilled to start her role as a Student Representative for the Alberta Dental Foundation and put her passions into action!
Yiying Huang
Yiying Huang is a second-year dental student at the University of Alberta. Other than being in school, she is the president of the Students’ Professionalism and Ethics Association, University of Alberta chapter. This association is dedicated to promoting students’ lifelong commitment to ethical and professional behaviour. Yiying is also the founder, producer, editor and host of The University of Alberta School of Dentistry’s first ever student podcast which is aimed to bring students, faculty and the dental community a platform to share their insight, knowledge and experience. Yiying served as the Junior and Senior Chair for the Eleventh and Twelfth Annual Charity Ball (hosted by the University of Alberta Dental Students’ Association). Her responsibilities included planning and facilitating all aspects involved in organizing the Charity Ball, as well as overseeing all subcommittees. She is also a sports representative for the Dental Students’ Association, and class treasurer for the DDS Class of 2024. Outside of school, Yiying volunteers as an assistant senior women’s volleyball coach for her old high school. After learning the mission statement of the Alberta Dental Foundation, Yiying has been intrigued with the ADF as she believes that access to dental care is a prevalent issue and much closer to home than imagined. Through witnessing the discrepancies in dental care in our community, from volunteering at the student run emergency dental clinic SHINE Dentistry, Yiying has grown keen to contribute to improving access to dental care for all.