This article is part of a series highlighting the 新澳门六合彩开奖 Class of 2018 鈥� the graduates of Dal's 200th year. Read more of our Spring Convocation grad profiles.
Jacquelyn Brokken (Jackie) had a degree in Psychology under her belt and wasn鈥檛 quite sure what to do next, but she knew her education wasn鈥檛 over.聽 As it turns out, it was her sister who inspired her next step, which took her to Dal鈥檚 Faculty of Dentistry to study dental hygiene.
Jackie鈥檚 older sister Katie has Down syndrome, a condition that is frequently connected to many physical vulnerabilities, such as heart defects, vision problems, hearing loss and infections. Gum disease and dental problems are also a risk, partly because of the irregular way teeth can develop in someone with Down syndrome, and partly because of difficulties in getting adequate oral health care.
鈥淜atie loves going to the dentist and has always felt comfortable there,鈥� says Jackie. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important because she had three holes in her heart and is much more prone to periodontal disease. Oral health care is super essential to her.
鈥淚 decided to go into health care so that I could somehow give back to the health field that has done so much to help Katie.鈥�
Long before she arrived at Dal, Jackie was already giving back to people with different abilities and their families. She is a volunteer with Special Olympics bowling, and Katie is a regular Special Olympics participant in bowling, basketball and track and field.
Jackie also provides respite care for families, often spending the time taking individuals with special needs on outings, such as swimming. For the past three years she has worked at a summer camp called The Club Inclusion, which offers programming to people who have different abilities.
So much more than cleaning teeth
Jackie went into dental hygiene with personal hopes and expectations of what it would enable her to do. Those expectations were more than fulfilled.
鈥淪tudying dental hygiene was way more rewarding than I could ever have imagined,鈥� says Jackie. 鈥淚 was surprised at the close-knit relationships I was able to develop with my professors, who are so passionate about their jobs. And I never expected to develop such close relationships with my patients. But when you see them over the course of three or four appointments, you get to know them.鈥�
Through the Faculty鈥檚 outreach clinics, Jackie had the opportunity to work in seniors鈥� homes and with veterans, to treat children at the Harbour View Elementary School paediatric clinic, and to help underserved populations at the North End Community Health Centre and the Immigrant Oral Health Outreach Clinic.
鈥淚 learned that dental hygiene is so much more than 鈥榗leaning鈥� 鈥� a word dental hygienists hate!聽 We provide debridement, preventative care, and oral health care education. We also have an important role in making people feel comfortable about going to the dentist鈥檚 office, including children and those with special needs. I really enjoy that side of the work.鈥�
Jackie says that the Harbou