Passion for learning fuelled Best's career

Speaking with Dr. Leandra Best about her association with dentistry, which began when she entered the USask College of Dentistry in 1980 and ended with her retirement in 2019, it is quickly apparent the hallmark of her remarkable career was a passion for learning. 

“It’s so important to spend your time in a career you’re passionate about,” said Best from her home in North Vancouver, “and I am so blessed I was able to experience that.” 

Always eager to learn, she also found she was drawn to teaching, only to discover the two are inextricably linked. Born in Toronto and raised in Regina, Best moved to Saskatoon when her husband Dale was accepted into medical school; “Saskatoon was our university life.” Having worked in the health-care field after high school and then being in the medical/dental school environment on campus led Best to apply for admission to the College of Dentistry. 

“I was a more mature student, but I was so excited to be there. It felt like such a privilege.” 

In school, Best drew inspiration from several professors, including biochemistry prof, Dr. Frank Vella, “who taught me to ask the ‘whys’ of what we were learning.” She also held the dean of the day, Dr. E.R. Ambrose, in particular high esteem. “He was so practical, so down to earth and was really student centred.” 

After graduating in 1985, she went into a general dental practice in the Vancouver area. Then one day, she had a visit from a former college professor, Dr. Ken Sutherland, who suggested she get involved in teaching at UBC. Best’s response: “Yes, why don’t I.” 

In 1999, Best joined the University of British Columbia Faculty of Dentistry as a clinical instructor while still maintaining a part-time private practice. That ended in 2003 when she received a full-time clinical assistant professor appointment. 

“It was,” she said, “an opportunity to take the skills I had learned in dental school and private practice and apply them in the teaching environment.” 

She was named associate dean, academic affairs in 2011 and promoted to clinical professor in 2014. In 2017, Best was elevated to senior associate dean, a position she held until her retirement almost two years ago. 

Best’s teaching experience along with her research into assessment, curriculum revitalization and student learning skills all came into play when she led a full curriculum renewal in the Faculty of Dentistry. One major change, she said, was separating dental students from the medical curriculum and establishing meaningful basic science objectives for dental education. There was also a focus on earlier clinical experiences and a continuation of problem-based learning, a pedagogy Best fully supports in order to better prepare student for professional practice. 

“I have a PowerPoint slide that says, problem-based learning equals practice-based learning. Students want to be led but this student self-directed approach means you present some facts and then work together to extract the clinical science by asking, ‘What do you know, and what do you need to know?’ ” 

Over the years, Best’s work as an educator has been widely recognized. In addition to faculty teaching awards, she won the Killam Teaching Prize in 2006, the 3M-ESPE Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry National Dental Teaching award in 2007 and an award from UBC Health in 2017 for her leadership in interprofessional professional development. 

Looking back over her career, Best said she truly relished interactions with students. “I always attempted to be a good role model, to encourage excellence, to help them be the best they could be.” 

Collaboration and comradery among colleagues is also a fond memory from her time at UBC. “We could have fun, laugh, inspire each other, brainstorm and innovate, and if you have open-minded leadership, you can sail with it.” 

This Alumni Spotlight profile was included in the Spring 2022 edition of Recall magazine. The full publication is available for reading and download in PDF format.