Adjunct Faculty Profile - Dr. Lesli Hapak
September 2023
As a newer member to the school, Dr. Lesli Hapak has felt the warmth and appreciation from students as they thank her for providing them with “great assets to help them in the ‘real world’.”
Despite doing research in fetal physiology in her undergrad physiology program at Western University, Dr. Hapak decided to pursue dentistry after interacting with other dentists. She graduated from Schulich Dentistry in 1991, then from the University of Toronto with a Diploma in Periodontics in 1994. She recalls the lifelong friendships she made in dental school and all the camaraderie and fun times enjoyed with her classmates.
From 1991 till 1992, Dr. Hapak worked as a clinical instructor for the dental hygiene program at St. Clair College. In 1994, Dr. Hapak started her role as an adjunct clinical professor at Western University till 1996. She also worked as an adjunct clinical professor at Detroit-Mercy Dental School from 1994 till 1996. She returned to Western University for a year as an adjunct clinical professor in 2003.
Dr. Hapak has held many professional position such as the president of the Ontario Society of Periodontists. She has also held many notable positions in the Ontario Dental Association (ODA) such as General Councillor, Board of Director, President of the Board, and has been assigned Chair to many other committees within the organization. In addition, Dr. Hapak was co-chair of the Ontario section of the Pierre Fauchard Academy and has had fellowships in a number of dental organizations.
In regards to teaching, Dr. Hapak has enjoyed teaching from the time she was a teenager when she taught piano lessons and was a lifeguard. Both her private practice and teaching emphasis is on periodontics, as she claims that “a person’s gums and bone are the foundation of dentistry as it relates to the oral cavity.”
When asked about the most rewarding part of teaching, Dr. Hapak assesses that it’s worthwhile to give students a perspective of what the dental profession might be like after graduation. By “providing them with information and skills,” Dr. Hapak tries to make the transition into practising in the profession easier. She states that her teaching lessons reflect on her recalling what it was like to be a student herself.
Concerning her best piece of teaching advice, Dr. Hapak encourages students to “speak with practising dentists to get a perspective of what the dental profession is about, what it has to offer, and expectations in the dental field.” She also encourages incoming students to speak with current dental students in order to gain a more realistic perspective.
