“It’s such an honor,” said Dr. Bruce Pion. As one of three recipients of the University of Toronto’s “Influential Alumni” award this year, his contributions have been widely recognized.
The University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry highly praised Dr. Pion’s professional skills, innovative spirit and deep care for patients.
As the director of dental and oral and maxillofacial surgery at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Pion not only runs a private practice, but also teaches at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.
An article published on the university’s website comprehensively describes his outstanding achievements in the field of dentistry, saying that he has “built a meaningful career in a community with scarce medical resources.” Despite the honor, Pion still looks at his work humbly.
“I came to Thunder Bay from Toronto 30 years ago for a year, and now I am glad that I stayed,” he recalled in an interview with News Watch.
In fact, before entering dentistry, Pion worked in a plastic surgery laboratory for many years, so he is older than the average dental graduate.
He originally planned to stay in Thunder Bay for a short time to earn some income. However, he met oral surgeon Bill Dahos, and the two of them had a common philosophy, which prompted him to decide to stay here for the long term.
Pien said that providing treatment for trauma patients is the most rewarding part of his job. “We treat up to 10 mandibular fractures a week, and we are one of the busiest oral surgery centers in Ontario.”
He pointed out that there are more than 200 oral surgeons in the province, but in his area, there are only three doctors serving an area the size of France.
He often receives requests from patients from remote areas such as Timmins, and sometimes even visits patients in their homes for postoperative follow-up.
“This award means a lot,” said Pien emotionally, “because I devote a lot of time and energy to these patients. I often reach out to help them, just like my mentor Dr. Dahos.
In Ontario, the nearest oral surgery center may be in Toronto, and not everyone can go there. I am willing to travel a long way just to get them the treatment they deserve.”
In addition to clinical work, Pien is also passionate about education. He regularly mentors dental students at Confederation College and travels to Toronto every month to provide clinical supervision for oral surgery students at the University of Toronto.
Next month, he will fly to Singapore to give a speech at the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Conference, talking about his three decades of practice and dedication in Thunder Bay.
This perseverance and persistence not only made his career successful, but also influenced and warmed the lives of countless patients.