Indigenous Student Achievement Award: Makenna Sheppard’s inspiring journey to dental therapy

Makenna Sheppard is one of two College of Dentistry students to receive the prestigious Indigenous Student Achievement Award in the category of Academic Excellence. This annual event celebrates the accomplishments, contributions and successes of Métis, First Nations, and Inuit students, staff, faculty, and alumni. Sheppard’s story celebrates her resilience, curiosity, and a passion for improving oral health. As a proud Métis student, she values being part of an Indigenous-focused program and is eager to make a meaningful impact in her community through her career in oral health care.

A winding path to dental therapy
Sheppard’s journey into dental therapy is anything but conventional. With a background that spans engineering, psychology, and education, she brings a unique blend of skills to her chosen field.
“My journey into dental therapy didn’t feel very straightforward, but looking back on it, I’m glad for my previous experiences, as they’ve all contributed to building my strengths as a dental therapist.”
Sheppard’s academic foundation equipped her with an understanding of material properties and mechanical principles from engineering, research methods and critical thinking from psychology, and teaching strategies from education. These diverse threads converged when she earned her certificate in dental assisting and began working in a supportive dental office. There, her curiosity about oral health blossomed.
“Learning about the mechanics of mastication forces, the research methods used to study new dental materials, and educating patients about procedures—all these skills I had studied in other capacities but later was able to apply them to a different field,” she explained. Recognizing her desire to do more for patients, Sheppard took the leap into the dental therapy program at USask, where she has thrived ever since.

The meaning of recognition
Receiving the Indigenous Student Achievement Award is a deeply meaningful milestone for Sheppard: “I’m honoured to receive this award as an acknowledgement and recognition for my academic efforts, as well as the affirmation it provides for my career choice,” she said.
The award not only celebrates her dedication but also underscores the importance of Indigenous representation in fields like dentistry, where culturally informed care can make a significant difference.

Overcoming challenges with a superpower
Sheppard’s academic journey hasn’t been without its hurdles. It wasn’t until her third year of university that she received a diagnosis of ADHD, a revelation that brought clarity to lifelong questions.
“It helped me understand the way my brain worked,” she shares. “There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s simply different.”
Rather than viewing ADHD as a limitation, Sheppard embraces it as a “superpower” that fuels her creativity, problem-solving, drive, and empathy.
“Sure, sometimes those differences make things more difficult, but there are numerous occasions where my ADHD is my strength,” she said. With the support of family, counsellors, co-workers, and peers, she has transformed potential obstacles into opportunities for growth.

Cultural influences and mentorship
Sheppard credits much of her success to the inspiring people around her.
“Working in an environment with people who are passionate about their work and improving the lives of members of their community is almost contagious,” she said.
The dedication of seasoned dental providers she’s worked alongside has left a lasting impression. “I admire their constant pursuit of self-improvement and hope to provide my future patients with the same level of care and dedication,” she said.
These cultural and professional connections have fostered a sense of purpose and motivated her to excel.

Advice for Indigenous students
For other Indigenous students striving to succeed, Sheppard offers practical and heartfelt advice: “Say ‘yes’ to as many things as you can, especially when they build community. You never know who you’ll meet, and how they could play a part in your future.”
She also encourages students to identify admirable traits in others and cultivate those qualities in themselves—a strategy that has guided her own development.

A vision for the future
As she looks ahead to completing her program, Sheppard is driven by a commitment to lifelong learning and impactful change. “I hope to never lose my thirst for knowledge and improvement,” she says. “Sometimes the smallest details can make the biggest impact.”
Her goals extend beyond personal growth—she aims to address the high rates of dental decay in Saskatchewan through preventative care and education. “It’s distressing to see such a high prevalence of disease when it could have been avoided with preventative measures,” she said.
By creating a welcoming environment for patients, Sheppard hopes to transform dental visits into positive experiences, reducing fear and promoting oral health.

A teachable moment in every step
For Sheppard, life is a series of teachable moments—an outlook that encapsulates her approach to both education and patient care.
“You just need to be willing to be open to receiving them,” she said.
With Indigenous Achievement Week upon us, Sheppard stands as an inspiring example of academic excellence, cultural pride, and a dedication to making a difference—one smile at a time.