CDA Essentials 2018 • Volume 5 • Issue 5

15 Issue 5 | 2018 | CDA at W ork For close to 40 years, Dr. Bruce Ward of Vancouver, has generously given his time to advance the profession. He held numerous volunteer positions at both the College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia and British Columbia Dental Association (BCDA). He is a past president of the BCDA and continues to serve as the official spokesperson for BCDA’s dental health public awareness program. Since 2010, he has chaired the BCDA Mentorship program and is a sessional instructor in dental ethics at the UBC dental school. He is perhaps most well-known for his role as chair of the Pacific Dental Conference. Dr. Ward has a strong belief in giving back to society. He volunteers as the director of Downtown Eastside Dental Clinic in Vancouver, a not-for-profit emergency clinic. Dr. Ward recently joined the CDA Board of Directors. This award was an amazing surprise for me. To be acknowledged for doing something I love is a bonus! I appreciate the CDA’s recognition of my efforts. Thank you to my wife, my staff, and the British Columbia Dental Association for giving me the support and encouragement to contribute to my profession and my community.”  Special Friend of Canadian Dentistry The Special Friend of Canadian Dentistry Award is conferred on an individual or organization outside of the dental profession in appreciation for exemplary support or service to Canadian dentistry and/or to the profession as a whole. This year’s recipient was Ms. Susan Armstrong . Since 2009, Susan Armstrong of Toronto, held the position of president and CEO of CDSPI. Since that time, CDSPI has prospered and grown. Ms. Armstrong is a tireless and accomplished administrator, who has given incredible energy to help grow the company. She streamlined its operations, keeping a sharp focus on the insurance and investment needs of Canadian dentists. She has also ensured that CDSPI is highly visible in every province and that it serves the needs of the profession. Under Ms. Armstrong’s leadership, CDSPI has supported the newest members of the profession through its mentorship initiatives and its student outreach program. CDSPI is also committed to giving back to the community through the growth of its Members Assistance Program and initiatives such as the Smiles Back program. I am quite humbled to receive this award and be honoured in this way. The meaning of this award is very important to me. It clearly acknowledges that I’ve had the privilege of working for a company for 9 years that has been supporting the dental community for almost 60 years. Dentistry is a close-knit community and I feel fortunate that I’ve been able to be part of this community. As I retire from CDSPI, I am grateful for the friends I’ve met and I wish the profession all the best in the future.”  Honorary Membership Award The Honorary Membership Award is given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the dental profession, the dental community, or the oral health of Canadians over a sustained period of time at the academic, corporate, specialty society, council, commission or committee level. This year’s recipient was Dr. Toby Gushue . Dr. Toby Gushue of St. John’s, Newfoundland, has been a leader and valuable contributor to the profession throughout his distinguished career. After being highly involved in dental student society at Dalhousie University, he joined the Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Association and served as its executive director and editor of the newsletter for 7 years. He went on to become involved with CDA and worked on third-party dental plans and the capability to send dental claims electronically. He served as CDA president in 1997–98 and during his term, he initiated a process to review the CDA governance model. Dr. Gushue contributed to the creation, development and promotion of CDAnet, the CDA Standard Dental Claim Form and the USC&LS. With CDAnet, Dr. Gushue and his colleagues were ahead of their time and under his leadership, they had a positive impact on the dental office workflow. Canadian dentistry continues to benefit from the legacy Dr. Gushue helped to create. My involvement gave me the opportunity to give back to the profession that served me so well, but moreover, it gave me the pleasure of meeting and working with outstanding members of the profession from across the country.”