The Passing of Dental Hygiene Leader Margaret Maclean
Alberta College of Dental Hygienists
The College would like to recognize the passing of Margaret Maclean, a leader in the field of dental hygiene in Alberta, who passed away on March 7, 2022.
Margaret was appointed to establish the University of Alberta's School of Dental Hygiene. At the time, there were only two practicing dental hygienists in Alberta. She served as the founding Director and Dean until 1975. Since then, the program has continued to grow into one of the leading Dental Hygiene programs in the country based on the work she started. She also received the Bulyea Cup from the School of Dentistry in 2000. It is awarded “in recognition of faculty members who have clearly excelled in both teaching and research, members of the oral health care professions are involved in teaching, research or service to the School of Dentistry, and to members of the community who have made contributions to oral health sciences education."
On the Dental Hygiene program development, Margaret was quoted as saying, “I really felt it was necessary in order to have a well-rounded program for the students because so much of a hygienist’s work is in community education.”
Margaret’s contributions to the profession have made a lasting impact and helped forge the path ahead for dental hygiene in Alberta.