Teaching in focus: Luana Carvalho

Learn more about the work of our educators at UBC

February 9, 2026

Name:

Luana Carvalho

My pronouns:

she/her

Title:

Assistant Professor

Faculty/Department/Unit:

Faculty of Dentistry

Location:

Vancouver

Year I started working at UBC:

2015

What first motivated you to become an educator?

My motivation started at home, where learning, reading and teaching were part of everyday life. My father was a cardiologist and professor, and my mother began her career as a middle school teacher before becoming a professor in education. While completing my dental education in Brazil, the University’s Division of Restorative Dentistry was a highly respected, internationally recognized team, and the extraordinary way they worked and taught further sparked my enthusiasm for teaching.

Tell us more about your work.

I teach Doctor of Dental Medicine students, guiding them through the nervous excitement of their first restorations on artificial teeth, to seeing the confidence and independence they achieve in their fourth year of patient care. My teaching in Restorative Dentistry is evidence-based and minimally invasive, emphasizing technical skills and knowledge for patient-centred care. Students diagnose and treat teeth affected by decay, trauma or other conditions, using procedures such as cavity preparation and dental fillings.

What inspired your particular approach to teaching?

My approach focuses on empathy, care and experiential learning. I recall the excitement and uncertainty of being a student, and I strive to create a warm environment where students feel valued and learn through experience, practice and reflection. Teaching is a partnership built on trust and open communication, nurturing both technical skills and a love for learning.

What have you learned while teaching that has surprised you the most?

I have learned that students teach us as much as we teach them. Their curiosity, different perspectives and adaptability continually challenge me to improve my own teaching and to stay open-minded. I am often surprised by their accountability, dedication, creativity and kindness, qualities that remind me why teaching is such a fulfilling profession.

What impact do you hope to have on your students?

I hope my students feel inspired to approach dentistry not only as a technical field but as a human-centred profession. My goal is to help them build a strong foundation of skills, ethics and compassion that will guide them throughout their careers. If I can help them see challenges as opportunities for growth and to find joy in learning, then I have done my job well.

Are there any colleagues or mentors you’d like to acknowledge, and why?

I’m grateful to my colleagues at UBC Dentistry, especially the Restorative Dentistry team, for their ongoing support, collaboration and shared commitment to teaching with excellence and compassion. I want to acknowledge Drs. Ricardo Carvalho and Adriana Manso for their guidance throughout my journey at UBC. Also, my mentors in Brazil, who first inspired me to pursue an academic career and showed me how to teach with passion, kindness and a genuine focus on students’ growth.