Volume 6 • 2019 • Issue 8

9 Issue 8 | 2019 | CDA at W ork A few years ago, I was the CDA Board liaison to the CDA Seal Program. I attended the Seal committee meetings, learned about what the group was working on, and reported back to the Board. The program was in the midst of internal changes at that time, though its mission stayed the same: to help consumers identify which oral health benefit claims made by manufacturers had been independently reviewed and were supported by scientific evidence. An article in this issue (p. 10) highlights the CDA Seal Program from the point of view of two long-time Seal committee members, Dr. Douglas Brothwell and Dr. Michael Wiseman, who have a combined 40 years of service to the program. Both dentists say that part of what kept them involved was the sense of camaraderie they enjoyed with their colleagues. Their comments made me reflect on my own involvement in organized dentistry and how this has enriched my life, professionally and personally. Shortly after I graduated from dental school, I joined the Winnipeg Dental Society (WDS) and became a regular attendee at their sports days and CE lectures. I simply enjoyed the connection with my colleagues. Although my classmates would probably have voted me “most unlikely to be involved in politics,” I soon found myself on the Board of the WDS and eventually the Manitoba Dental Association (MDA). It turned out I really enjoyed it. I felt we were doing important work for the profession and for patients, all while meeting new colleagues and getting to know them better as we worked together. For many young dentists, free time is a scarce resource between spending extra hours on the business side of a practice and starting or raising a family. Making a time commitment to a professional association can be hard. For me, starting small and meeting colleagues with whom I formed friendships made this work something that helped renew my energy, rather than deplete it. Once I was involved and as my sons got older, I was able to take on more demanding roles. On the MDA Board, I felt like I was in the middle of an information centre; I learned about emerging challenges for the profession and the newest ideas and techniques for clinical practice. And I don’t think I would have been exposed to these ideas if I’d just kept my head down and worked alone at my practice. People sometimes ask me what qualities a person needs for association leadership. But I don’t believe there are defining characteristics. What organized dentistry needs is a diversity of attributes and perspectives among its leadership if we want to make the best choices for the profession. Everyone has something to offer. The CDA Seal Program is currently looking for dentists who would be interested in reviewing the materials that manufacturers submit to prove the effectiveness of their products. It’s an opportunity for dentists with backgrounds in material science, chemistry, or research to become engaged with the profession. Both my sons are now dentists. I want the profession to be as good a home for them as it has been for me. I hope they too will get involved, along with other dentists with fresh perspectives, and that they find the experience as fulfilling as I have. From the President Alexander (Sandy)Mutchmor, dmd president@cda-adc.ca Getting Involved Why ItMatters toMe