Sherry Priebe
- Oral Health Professional and Clinician
- Published Researcher
- International Keynote Speaker
- Educator
- Global and Community Oral Health Advocate
Sherry is impacting the lives of people around the world with her innovative dental hygiene life focus to assist people to attain optimum oral health through research, education and clinical practice.
Oral health -
an innovative approach
Sherry Priebe, RDH, BDSc, MSc received a Diploma of Dental Hygiene from the University of Alberta, her Bachelor Degree in Dental Science in Dental Hygiene and a Masters’ in Science degree from the University of British Columbia, Canada.
Sherry is an independent clinical dental hygienist in Kelowna British Columbia, researcher, speaker, educator at the Okanagan College, community oral health advocate and Lead Mentor and Clinical Instructor for the UBC/Vietnam International Learning Program for global collaboration and international learning. She has published articles in the Vietnam Journal of Medicine and Pharmacy, the Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene, the International Journal of Dental Hygiene and the Dental Health Journal in the UK.
She has presented her masters’ research study of cultural oral habits and oral cancer in Asia and the global risks of oral cancer in Scotland, Brazil, Vietnam, Dubai, USA and Canada. Sherry has been honored and awarded for her oral cancer study in Vietnam with the prestigious “World Dental Hygiene Award in Research” sponsored by the SUNSTAR Foundation for Oral Health Promotion in collaboration with the International Federation of Dental Hygienists and the International Journal of Dental Hygiene. She was presented with the award at the International Symposium on Dental Hygiene in Scotland in 2010.
In the Graduate Dental Research Room dedicated with my finacial support at the UBC Oral Health Research Centre, Ho Chi Minh City
Speaking at Yale University giving a pitch at the Global Health & Innovation Conference
Awarded the Vision and Leadership Award in Dental Hygiene by the College of Dental Hygiene in British Columbia, Canada
Sherry's Story
The world and the people in it have always had my curiosity!
As a young girl, I wondered what it was like on the other side of the world and how I could get there quickly and save them (I somehow thought they were in trouble), kind of like Wonder Woman as I thought she was so amazing. I look up to heroes of any type (big or small) in making an impact assisting people in a remarkable way. The incredible profession of dental hygiene has enabled me to help people improve their oral and, ultimately, systemic health. I was also curious how oral health impacts quality of life for the individual, community and the world as a whole.
One of my heroes is Nelson Mandela, who once stated, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. I followed his advice and pursued additional education to change my world by earning a Bachelor of Dental Science degree. My final course was a self-directed study of international global oral health. Synergistically, the University of British Columbia was starting an initiative in Vietnam. A visionary leader from the Faculty of Dentistry invited me to join the UBC Dental Residents Program at the Oncology Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This experience increased both my drive to help others globally while also increasing my job satisfaction at home. The severity of oral disease and how it affected lives of patients and families, cracked my heart open wide. My life path, purpose and goals were permanently altered.
One of my heroes is Nelson Mandela, who once stated, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.
As a result, I continued my education and completed my Masters’ research study on oral health and cultural risk factors of oral cancer in Vietnam. The research was unique, timely and innovative for dental hygiene research. I was honored with the 'World Dental Hygiene Award in Research' in 2010 by the International Federation of Dental Hygiene, the International Journal of Dental Hygiene and the Sunstar Foundation for Oral Health Promotion. This achievement sparked a passion within me to encourage and mentor others to understand these studied risk factors and how oral cancer is advancing globally.
As people migrate to our communities, our understanding of cultural risk habits is mandatory to assist others in early oral health wellness and awareness of lesions that may potentially become cancerous.
Awarded the 'UBC 100th Anniversary Alumni Builder Award’ at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Dentistry Dental Hygiene Alumni Annual Meeting 2017 for her commitment to mentor students in Vietnam.
