Henry Lapointe: Looking Back and Moving Forward
May 2023
Looking back on a career spanning over thirty years, Dr. Henry Lapointe has plenty of memories to share. One of his fondest recollections is working with the team at the Schulich Dentistry Undergraduate Oral Surgery clinic. Dr. Lapointe describes those years as “a cumulative memory of friendship and watching excellent people in action doing the work they loved.”
He also worked closely with his Oral Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) colleagues and faculty leadership to develop and run the Residency Program in OMFS, which he considers a highlight of his career. Dr. Lapointe is proud to have been a part of the leadership and development of this successful program which began in 2007, saying, “Watching our residents internalize this concept of ‘attention to detail’ and apply it to their work as they progress through the years of training is extremely rewarding.”
As a teacher, Dr. Lapointe is most impressed by seeing so many bright students learn, grow, and make an impact in the world – particularly when they reach out to let him know that what they learned made a difference.
So, what inspired Dr. Lapointe to pursue OMFS as a profession? For him, it was the opportunity to stretch himself intellectually and technically – it seemed to have it all. He explains, “It encompasses extensive consideration of patient medical issues and clinical science in combination with the opportunity to perform complex and potentially life-altering surgery.”
When asked what inspired him to teach, Dr. Lapointe identified his own teachers as “builders of a broader approach to knowledge” who had contributed to society by putting ideas ‘out there’ and making them a part of their students’ day-to-day thinking. “I don't know how successful I have been,” he says, “but I wanted to be like them.”
From his interactions with students, Dr. Lapointe has learned the value of listening. He says, “If one takes the time to listen to what students have to say, they open windows to a world of knowledge and life stories that no single person could ever experience on their own.” He notes that some of his chats with students over the years “have led to expeditions of my own to far flung parts of the world that I might never otherwise have seen.”
Dr. Lapointe’s own OMFS training was marked by a significant increase in responsibility, going from school to residency. He says, “These were complex cases, and we had to know what we were doing. That commitment to ‘getting it right’ becomes part of everything you do.” For students considering a career in oral surgery, Dr. Lapointe advises being sure that it's what they want. The long hours and heavy workload are rewarding but demanding, and Dr. Lapointe emphasizes the importance of being committed to the profession.
Overall, Dr. Lapointe’s career at Schulich Dentistry has been fulfilling, rewarding, and marked by a commitment to excellence and a desire to contribute to his community by teaching future oral surgeons.
As for what lies ahead for Dr. Lapointe, he plans to enjoy a second cup of coffee in the morning while watching wildlife in his backyard, travel with his wife Jill, renew friend and family contacts that suffered during COVID, hike and bike, and make things in his shop that he can give away.
