Heather Cooper – Dental Hygiene Practitioner (DHP)(C)
Heather Cooper, DHP
I started my career as a dental hygienist shortly after I graduated from secondary school. I always had an affinity for working with people and wanted to focus on health and well being. After discussing options with career counselors, speaking with friends and other hygienists and observing at dental clinics I chose dental hygiene.
I graduated from the College of New Caledonia in Prince George, BC, in 1996 and began my career in Victoria on Vancouver Island. I had completed board examinations for Canada, United States and Australia at the end of training and within a short 10 months I was off to Australia to complete clinical examinations and practice in a small town on the south east coast of New South Wales. Just over a year later I was back in Victoria until moving to Nanaimo in 2000. After attending a dental hygiene convention in Kelowna I came back with the idea and push from fellow colleagues to open a private dental hygiene clinic; Harbour City Dental Hygiene was conceived and we opened our doors in the summer of 2003. The challenge and experience has been incredible and I feel we have added enormous value to the dental community in Nanaimo and even more value to the people living in the community offering more access to preventive dental hygiene services. As Registered Dental Hygienists we are in the perfect position to educate our clients and help everyone reach better overall health. Prevention is the cure and “oral health matters from head to toe”.
In 2009, Heather was recognized for her contribution to advancing and enhancing oral health care within her own community, and was presented the Dental Hygienist Hero Award from the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA). Heather was nominated and selected by the British Columbia Dental Hygiene Association (BCDHA) Board of Directors as the 2014 recipient of the Diane Gallagher Inspiration Award. This award recognizes and honors a dental hygienist who has challenged or inspired other dental hygienists to make their personal and/or professional futures better. Heather was also selected by the BCDHA Board of Directors as the 2017 recipient of the Barbara J. Heisterman Award for Innovation and Commitment to Care. This award was established as a tribute to Barbara J. Heisterman, BC’s first mobile residential care dental hygienist. Heather was given this award as she best exemplifies the outstanding and unique attributes and values that Barbara upheld.
Emma Johnson – Dental Hygiene Practitioner (C)
I completed my undergraduate degree in 2008 in Kinesiology and moved on to obtain my Dental Hygiene Diploma from Camosun College in 2010. I worked in private practice for 4 years gaining additional training and experience in laser gum therapy, oral cancer screenings and TMJ therapy before deciding to open a dental hygiene clinic in Vancouver, BC in 2014. I ran my own dental hygiene practice for 10 years providing preventative dental hygiene services, laser teeth whitening and oral cancer screenings. In recent years I have also been teaching in the dental hygiene programs at UBC and then at the Vancouver College of Dental Hygiene.
This year, I decided to sell my practice and move to Vancouver Island, which my family and I are very excited about. I do miss working in an Independent Dental Hygiene office, and I am so excited to be able to continue practicing as a Dental Hygiene Practitioner at Harbour City Dental Hygiene. In my free time, I am exploring all that the island has to offer with my husband, son and our little dog, Nelson.
I really look forward to meeting you at Harbour City Dental Hygiene
Keep Your Smile Awhile! See a Registered Dental Hygienist!