Dr Derek B. Friesen

I am very fortunate to have two passions in life: music and dentistry. While music has been part of my life from a very early age, my professional career began at sixteen. Since then, music has given me the opportunity to travel the world (over 60 countries!), to experience various cultures, and to see first-hand how music can connect people from different walks-of-life. Music truly is a universal language. As I begin my career in dentistry, I find that much of what I have learned as a musician is applying to my work as a dentist. When you play music in a band or ensemble, over time, special relationships and bonds form where members feel like family. As I enter the work-force in a family dental practice, I see the parallels between music and dentistry. How, dedication to my craft, paying attention to the small details, and working alongside staff and patients brings out the best results. Speaking of family dentistry, it is an absolute dream-come-true to be joining my Dad at Landmark Dental. While we share more than a few genetic characteristics, we also share a love for learning, dentistry, and music! Growing up around dentistry has given me a keen understanding that staff and patients are really just an extension of my family and that serving others is a rewarding way to live life. Of the many countries I have been fortunate to visit, one holds a special place in my heart. I received my dental training at James Cook University in Cairns, Australia. When I think about the five years I spent in Australia, it is very easy to picture the ocean or the many beautiful landscapes. But, when I reflect on my time there, I think a lot about the lasting relationships that I made with classmates, professors, and patients. While the memories are countless, one experience does stand-out among them. During my 5th-year dentistry rotation in Tasmania, I was selected for a rare opportunity to assist with the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit at the Royal Hobart Hospital. For 8-weeks, I worked intensively with the unit’s registrar from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., 7-days a week. To say I learned and grew tremendously during that time would be an understatement. And yet, at no point did it ever feel like work! The experience reaffirmed my passion for dentistry regardless of the time or day!