Next Gen of the Month is a monthly Q&A with a dental student or new dentist where we ask them about their experiences and accomplishments thus far in their dentistry journey. This month we are featuring Navnoor Randhawa, a final-year dental student at Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry. Navnoor recently won an award at her school’s research poster competition and has been involved in volunteer activities for Habitat for Humanity.
Why did you decide to pursue dentistry?
I’ve been fascinated by science for as long as I can remember. My mom is a physician, so I had the opportunity to shadow her and see what medicine was like. While I admired it, I realized I wanted something that combined science with hands-on creativity. I’ve always loved working with my hands, whether it’s building or fixing things with my dad, who’s an engineer, so dentistry felt like the perfect balance between the two worlds I grew up around. Attending university open houses and hearing from dental students while I was in grade 12 sealed the deal for me and I knew that dentistry was the perfect fit for me. Dentistry combines art, precision, skill, care into every aspect of patient treatment, and the difference dentistry makes in improving function and patient confidence is truly remarkable.
You have participated in volunteer activities such as Habitat for Humanity. What have these experiences meant to you?
Volunteering has always been so rewarding for me. I sometimes go into it carrying the stress of daily life, but once I’m there, it’s incredibly rejuvenating; for a while, your own worries fade away, and you’re reminded of what truly matters. It broadens your perspective and fills you with gratitude.
Habitat for Humanity was especially meaningful because it was part of our dental school build day. It was amazing to work alongside classmates, faculty, and staff outside the clinic and truly bond as a team. By the end of the day, I joked that I had turned into Bob the Builder! It was such a fun experience that reminded me how teamwork, whether in building homes or restoring smiles, is the foundation of success. I saw this even more clearly during my rural externship in Dauphin, where I learned how a dental team functions like a well-oiled machine.
You won an award at the annual Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry research poster competition. What inspired you to choose to study the concordance between initial clinical diagnosis of oral lesions and the final histopathology result?
At the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, we’re given a wide range of clinical and academic experiences. Early on in dental school, we were introduced to different specialties, and I remember being especially intrigued by Dr. Vimi S. Mutalik, an oral pathologist.
Even during my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry, I was fascinated by microbiology and histology, which made oral pathology feel like a perfect way to connect disease etiology with clinical presentation. After speaking with Dr. Mutalik, she shared a research idea with me, and I was immediately interested in determining how well our institution performs in accurately identifying oral lesions clinically compared to their final histopathological diagnosis.
Interestingly, there have been many similar studies worldwide but none yet in Canada. Since time is critical in oral lesion progression, I wanted to help establish a baseline for diagnostic accuracy within our setting and contribute to improving clinicopathological concordance.
This was your first-ever research project. What was the most unexpected or surprising thing you learned during the process?
While I knew research wouldn’t be easy, I didn’t realize how many challenges would come up such as missing data, unexpected adjustments, and constant re-evaluation. It can be humbling when even simple steps don’t go as planned.
One of the biggest lessons I learned was the value of mentorship. My supervisors, Dr. Mutalik and Dr. Dieter Schönwetter, were incredibly supportive throughout the process. There were many times when I had to rerun statistics or revisit analyzes, and they always reminded me that it’s part of the process. Their patience and encouragement taught me as much as the research itself did.
In the end, I realized there’s no “I” in research, it’s truly a team effort. Seeing my supervisors proud of what we accomplished together was the most rewarding part of all.
What advice would you give other dental students who are considering embarking on their first research project?
Research isn’t a straight road, it’s full of twists, turns, and detours. But it’s your creativity and perseverance that make the journey worthwhile. I initially underestimated the time commitment, but I’ve grown to appreciate how much dedication and problem-solving it requires. You’ll have setbacks, but those moments build patience and persistence.
Go into research not thinking about what you’ll get from it, but what you’ll learn along the way. Your supervisors will be your guides through the turbulent seas; listen, absorb, and make the most of your experience. It may feel never-ending at times, but looking back, you’ll see how much you’ve grown.
Who is your biggest inspiration?
My parents are my biggest inspiration. In 2013, both my mom and dad left their established careers as a doctor and an engineer in India to immigrate to Canada for the betterment of their children. My brother and I feel grateful every day for their sacrifice and the life they’ve built for us.
They both went through the long, demanding relicensing process here and have once again achieved their professional goals. I was 12 when we moved, and I vividly remember watching them rebuild from the ground up, which included balancing work, family, and caring for their parents, all while adapting to a new country.
Whenever I face challenges, I think of them and their strength. They’ve taught me resilience, humility, and perseverance, and I can only hope to make them proud of the decision they made for us.
What do you like to do for fun?
I love staying active and trying new things, lately I’ve gotten into kickboxing, which has become one of my favourite ways to unwind. I’ve also played badminton since high school and have been lucky to continue that in dental school, especially since so many students and even instructors play really well. I’m a big coffee lover too, so I enjoy exploring new cafés and finding cozy spots to study or catch up with friends. But honestly, nothing beats spending quality time with my family whenever I get the chance, whether it be staying home or travelling.
What are your hopes for post-graduation life?
Dentistry is such a unique profession because no two patients are ever the same. Every day challenges you to think critically, apply your knowledge, and provide personalized care.
At the University of Manitoba College of Dentistry, we’ve had the opportunity to treat a wide range of patients and learn from instructors who dedicate their time to mentoring us. That experience has shown me how valuable mentorship and lifelong learning are in this field.
After graduation, my goal is to become the best clinician I can be while working closely with patients, continuing to learn from mentors, and growing both professionally and personally. I hope to keep evolving every day, not just through continuing education but also through the lessons my patients will teach me.
I also really enjoyed my rural rotation experience in Dauphin, which has been such a memorable experience of fourth year, and I’m currently deciding whether I’d like to practice in a rural community or stay within the city. One of the most memorable parts of that experience was seeing how well practitioners knew their patients and their families; the comfort, familiarity, and trust between them was truly heartwarming. It reminded me how meaningful long-term relationships can be in patient care.
While nothing is set in stone yet for post-graduation, the possibilities in this career are truly endless, and that’s one of the things I’m most excited for.
Feel free to reach out to Navnoor at Instagram @Navnoor2000, Facebook and LinkedIn: Navnoor Randhawa!