Dr. Jerry Baluta In 2014, Dr. Jerry Baluta developed and established the oral cancer health screening program for Manitobans. In partnership with the Never Alone Foundation and the Manitoba Dental Association (MDA), this program has screened hundreds of people and makes referrals to oral surgeons, when needed. Dr. Baluta’s extraordinary leadership and ongoing management of this program has encouraged participation from dentists in Manitoba. Thanks to Dr. Baluta, Manitobans who are at risk are provided with free screening examinations and some are referred immediately to a specialist. This early detection screening program is held annually during Oral Health Month in April. It is an integral part of the MDA’s public-facing initiatives. Oral Health Promotion Award This award recognizes individuals or organizations who have improved the oral health of Canadians through oral health promotion. This may involve creating public health policy or supportive environments, strengthening community action, developing personal skills, or increasing the prevention of oral diseases and disorders. I’m honoured to receive this CDA Award for Oral Health Promotion. I’m receiving this award as the former chair of the communication committee of Manitoba Dental Association, and I stand on the shoulders of many who come before me in this committee. And I definitely honour them. […] I also share this award with all the members of our committee, recent and long-standing, who serve to advance the communication agenda of theMDA. We are very advanced in our communication with our focus being on patient care of all Manitobans, as well as business and volume for dentists in the province. I’m very honoured to receive this award and thank you very much. CDA AwardWinners Dr. Frances Power Dr. Frances Power is the course director for Community Oral Health Services at McGill University. She was recognized for her leadership in supporting oral health promotion activities at the university. This role led her to support and mentor McGill dental students to provide free personalized oral health promotion sessions to the underprivileged communities in Montreal. Dr. Power helped create a supportive environment for the underserved to gain and expand their knowledge of the benefits of good oral health, and for McGill dental students to learn more about working with vulnerable groups. Each year, over 40 community centres throughout Montreal are visited by third-year dental students, and over 3,000 people have received these services. McGill’s community service and oral health promotion work was recognized in 2019 with the American Dental Education Association William J. Gies Award for Vision, and Dr. Power was a major contributor in McGill’s faculty of dentistry being recognized for these initiatives. My dental students, community partners, and myself all hold the CDA in high esteem, so your Oral Health Promotion Award means the world to us. Friendship building between my students and community groups enables underserved people to have their access to care and health challenges be heard, as well as their wishes for better oral health. These McGill students transform dental public health information into personalized oral health promotion sessions for diverse community groups. Thanks to our faculty and our Community Oral Health Services program, our students engage communities in need through equity, respect, and love, so they become empowered through oral health, knowledge, and access to care. 19 Issue 4 | 2023 |
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