Olu Brown says she鈥檚 鈥渁lways wanted to be a dentist or dental hygienist.鈥� The first step was enrolling in Dal鈥檚 Transition Year Program for African-Canadian and First Nations students. From there, she started a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology. 鈥淚鈥檓 planning on finishing it,鈥� she says. 鈥淎ll I need is one course.鈥�
The next step toward Ms. Brown鈥檚 dream of a career in dentistry was her acceptance into Dal鈥檚 Diploma in Dental Hygiene program, which she completed in 2009. After working full time for a year as a dental hygienist, Ms. Brown started the Bachelor of Dental Hygiene program.
鈥淚鈥檝e gained so much experience in just one year鈥攚e鈥檝e done everything.鈥� she exclaims. 鈥淔rom business plans, policy analysis and teaching methods, to hands-on experience in a mobile outreach clinic.鈥�
Providing hygiene and preventative care to the patients at the Mount Hope clinic was rewarding鈥攁nd it also inspired her career path. 鈥淚t motivated me even more to start a mobile clinic,鈥� Ms. Brown explains. 鈥淚 saw there鈥檚 a real need for that type of service and I found out I鈥檝e got what it takes to do it.鈥�
And an entrepreneurship elective helped Ms. Brown create a business plan for her mobile clinic, Smart Smiles Dental Hygiene. 鈥淚t was challenging,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut the professor, Paulette Dunn, adapted the material to our knowledge level. That class was definitely the highlight of my year.鈥�
The School of Dentistry faculty were -supportive, too. 鈥淧rofessor Neish, in particular, always encouraged me to pursue my business goals.鈥� Ms. Brown has made many contacts in the industry, and is confident she can succeed with her career endeavours.
鈥淚t means a lot to me that I鈥檓 the first black woman to graduate from the BDH program,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 why I worked so hard to get in.鈥� Ms. Brown hopes to inspire other young African-Nova Scotian women to apply. 鈥淚鈥檝e been asked to speak to students in the Transition Year Program,鈥� she says. It鈥檚 a fitting part of her own transition from being a student to being a self-employed dental hygienist.
A reason to smile
Part of a series of stories profiling graduating students
Jane Affleck - May 26, 2011
Olu Brown graduates with a bachelor's degree in dental hygiene.