ColonelGenevièveBussière, ChiefDentalOfficer, RCDC World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness (AMR) Week, a global campaign to improve awareness and understanding of AMR and encourage best practices among the public, took place November 18–24. CDA and Choosing Wisely Canada (CWC) collaborated for World AMR Awareness Week to help promote the responsible use of antibiotics within dentistry. “CWC and CDA’s coordinated action to enhance awareness and understanding of AMR speaks to the seriousness of this global health challenge,” said Dr. Joel Antel, CDA president in a joint press release. “AMR is a growing public health threat, and as dental professionals, we have a crucial role to play to help reduce AMR and stopping the emergence of drug-resistant infections.” With support from CDA, CWC hosted a webinar on November 20, on managing toothache pain and tools for CDA and ChoosingWisely Canada Collaborate forWorld AMR AwarenessWeek New RCDC Chief Dental Officer In a ceremony held October 4, 2024, Colonel Geneviève Bussière was officially appointed as the first female Chief Dental Officer (CDO) of the Royal Canadian Dental Corps (RCDC), following Brigadier General Jean-Pierre Picard who had held the role since June 2018. Col Bussière obtained her DMD at Université de Montréal in 1997, completed a one-year multidisciplinary residency in general dentistry at Université Laval in 1998, followed by private practice and employment as a clinician at Université de Montréal in the undergraduate fixed prosthodontics department, before joining the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in 1999. In 2008, Col Bussière completed a two-year post-graduate studies program with the United States Army (Advanced Education in General Dentistry 2-Year) at Fort Hood, Texas, and was subsequently certified by the American Board of General Dentistry (ABGD) in 2009. Throughout her assignments in the CAF, accounting for deployments and various levels of clinical and command positions up to 1 Dental Unit Commanding Officer, followed by strategic activities as Director Dental Services since 2022, Col Bussière has maintained a high level of clinical involvement, providing a wide range of clinical services, including lecturing opportunities in Canada and abroad. From 2013 to 2017, she was the RCDC Forensic Odontology Consultant, and from 2017 to 2021, the RCDC Senior Clinical Practice Leader. In July 2021, Col Bussière completed two, 3-year terms as a Director/Examiner for the ABGD, where, throughout that time, she held various executive roles, including serving as ABGD president between 2019-20. Col Bussière is a graduate of the CAF Joint Command and Staff Program, a recipient of the Order of Military Merit, and is a Fellow of the International College of Dentists, which recognizes dentists for their “professional achievement, meritorious service and dedication to the continued progress of dentistry for the benefit of humankind.” DENTAL DIGEST improving antibiotic prescribing in the community. On the CDA Oasis website, Dr. Susan Sutherland, dentistry co-lead for CWC, discussed AMR and introduced a new CWC toolkit for dentists, Taking the Bite Out of Tooth Pain. This toolkit has practical guidance and resources for dental health professionals, including FAQs, an educational poster and patient information on alleviating toothaches without antibiotics. See: bit.ly/40Vdymm 16 | 2024 | Issue 6
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