Antimicrobial Resistance: A Greater Scourge than Dental Caries

About this Seminar

The Antimicrobial Resistance session will introduce dental professionals to the concepts of antibiotic resistance and antibiotic stewardship. Dentists will achieve an understanding of the importance of imbedding antimicrobial stewardship into their practice. 

The session will also provide awareness of resources that have been created to help dentists engage in better antimicrobial stewardship practice. These tools include a prescription pad, informational posters and pamphlets for patients, and an algorithm to help assess penicillin allergies in patients. Penicillin allergies will be discussed in detail. 

Presenters

About Jason Vanstone, PhD

Research Scientist

Jason grew up in Regina and completed a B.Sc. in Biology at the University of Regina in 2006. He then completed a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa in 2013 where his research focused on regenerative medicine. Following a post-doctoral fellowship in rare disease research at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Jason returned home to Regina in 2015.

In 2016, he began working with the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region (now Saskatchewan Health Authority) and is currently the Research Scientist for the Stewardship and Clinical Appropriateness Department. 

Jason is passionate about educating the public on the threat of antibiotic resistance and improving antibiotic stewardship efforts in healthcare.  

About Melissa Kucey, BSP, ACPR

Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist

Melissa is an antimicrobial stewardship and infectious diseases pharmacist with the SHA Antimicrobial Stewardship Program. She completed a B.Sc. in Physiology in 2010 and a B.Sc. in Pharmacy in 2014 at the University of Saskatchewan. 

After university, Melissa completed a hospital pharmacy residency at the Regina General Hospital in 2015, and was employed as a clinical pharmacist for the SHA. She covered critical care and internal medicine for a few years before transitioning into her specialized role of antimicrobial stewardship in April 2020.

Infectious diseases and antimicrobial stewardship are areas Melissa is very passionate about and she enjoys working with her colleagues to educate the public and health care providers around the threat of antimicrobial resistance and ways to optimize antimicrobial use.