Les Irwin receives the Penny Waite Achievement Award

Les Irwin, an instructor in the Dental Assisting Program in the College of Dentistry has received the Penny Waite Achievement Award by the Saskatchewan Dental Assistants’ Association (SDAA). The award is given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the profession of dental assisting.

Irwin received the award due to her involvement and leadership with the dental assisting program at the College of Dentistry.

“We are so thankful for the incredible amount of time and effort Les put into the program and know that the success the program is seeing is largely due to her passion and efforts," said Dr. Doug Brothwell, Dean of the College of Dentistry. “Les is incredibly deserving of the Penny Waite Achievement Award, and I congratulate her on this accomplishment.”

Irwin graduated from the Kelsey Institute of Applied Arts and Science in 1986. She worked in private practice for the first few years of her career before joining the College of Dentistry in 1991 as a clinic floor dental assistant. When the college decided to introduce a Dental Assisting Program in 2018, Irwin, alongside college leadership and Dental Assisting instructors, played a key role in getting the program up and running in the college.

“Receiving the Penny Waite Achievement award from my professional organization and peers to acknowledge my dedication to, and love for the dental assisting profession and USask DA program was a huge honour," Irwin said. “I am so thankful and fortunate to have the opportunity to set a positive example and encourage all dental assistants, and especially my students, to understand and always be proud of the important role they play on a dental team.”