Richelle Chuka - BSc, MSc, RDH
Richelle is a clinician and research dental hygienist in the Jaw Reconstruction Rehabilitation Program at the Institute for Reconstructive Sciences in Medicine (iRSM). Richelle completed her Masters graduate degree in Medical Sciences (MSc, Oral Biology) at the University of Alberta, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.
As a clinician researcher, Richelle is active in clinical care, research and teaching. Her clinical commitment is geared towards improving outcomes related to osseointegrated implant retained oral rehabilitation in patients with defects of the head and neck secondary to cancer and trauma.
Richelle has an active role in research and is dedicated to collate and manage head and neck outcomes data in a multi-site collaboration between head and neck surgery, radiation therapy, speech pathology and jaw reconstruction rehabilitation. She enjoys presenting and publishing on oral rehabilitation outcomes after treatment for head and neck cancer.
In addition to her clinical and research role, Richelle facilitates the research component of the iRSM Maxillofacial Prosthodontist fellowship program as well as the Head and Neck Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Module (HNRR) for the dental hygiene BSc students at the University of Alberta.