Adjunct Faculty Profile – Dr. James Jean
Dr. James Jean, DDS’73, has taught and mentored Schulich Dentistry students as an adjunct faculty member for almost 50 years.
Dr. Jean’s reasons for entering dentistry were classic – he enjoyed working with his hands, found science amazing and liked the lifestyle that dentistry provided.
His family, consisting of his wife, Beth; sons, Ian and Adam; and daughter, Lindsey, all have beautiful families of their own. Dr. Jean and his wife have eight grandchildren and one great-grandson. Beth is a retired nurse, who worked in both operating rooms and the local medical centre.
None of their children have sought dentistry as a career, but the closest in the health field would be Dr. Jean's daughter who earned a Master's degree in Physical Therapy. 
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced Dr. Jean to approach teaching via computer, his granddaughter helped him with a course lecture – although he still unsure about how it would be perceived by students.
His dental faculty when he attended the School as the Faculty of Dentistry were his primary teaching influences. This includes Dr. Jim Guest, Dr. Ron Jordan and Dr. Mike Suzuki.
Dr. Jean says the most rewarding aspect of teaching is knowing that the Schulich Dentistry graduates are well prepared for whatever their next steps in their career happen to be, because they have come from a school that is based on excellence in teaching and research.
Over the years, Dr. Jean has learned from the students that life and dentistry are continually changing.
He’d like to leave the graduating Class with a piece of advice, “Know what you don't know."
