CDA President 2023–24 Mentors and Colleagues Since she began dental school, Dr. Carr says she’s been fortunate to have people who supported and positively influenced her career. At Dalhousie, Drs. Doug Chaytor, Wayne Maillet and Richard Price were some faculty members important to her educational experience. “They influenced how I learned,” she says. Dr. Chaytor was the head of the Dalhousie Dental Journal, which she edited. “Ever since, whenever something good happens, he sends me a congratulatory note or card. He’s been one of my biggest supporters since dental school.” “Dr. Eric Hatfield was a mentor to many of us and, sadly, he passed away suddenly in 2020,” says Dr. Carr. “The CDA recently honoured Dr. Hatfield posthumously with its inaugural Mentorship Advancement Award recognizing all that he did for the dental community in Nova Scotia. Dr. Hatfield and Dr. Aaron Burry, CDA’s CEO, graduated two years ahead of me at Dalhousie and have volunteered in the profession since we were students.” Steve Jennex, executive director of the NSDA, and his predecessor Don Pamenter were both significant to Dr. Carr’s involvement in organized dentistry. Other CDA past-presidents from Nova Scotia—Drs. Robert MacGregor, Alfred Dean, and Burton Conrod—were also inspiring because they showed what was possible in organized dentistry. “When Iwasofficially installedasCDApresident, Dr. DeanandDr.MacGregor were in attendance. And my ‘wingman’ from my term as NSDA president Dr. Stuart MacDonald, current Nova Scotia rep on the CDA Board, has always supported my efforts. It was great that they could all be there in Winnipeg at the installation.” Dr. Carr has treasured colleagues and friends among her Dalhousie classmates, and among the dentists practising in Nova Scotia. “I’m blessed to have a dental community filled with individuals I respect and admire. Especially during the pandemic, these relationships really sustained me,” she says. “Drs. Bernadette McCarthy, Cheryl Wenn, Jo-Anne Matheson, Jane Porter, Karen Furlong and myself stayed in touch during the pandemic though Zoom calls and a messenger group called Classy Girls from 1988. We have a 35th class reunion this summer in P.E.I. which will give our graduating class another chance to reconnect.” And of course, Dr. Carr’s family have always inspired and supported her. “Among my family, there’s a belief that we each must define success for ourselves. For me, they have always been a huge part of it.” 23 Issue 3 | 2023 |
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