Remembering Dentistry Leaders Dr.RichardSandilands Dr. Richard (Dick) Sandilands of Edmonton, Alberta, passed away on June 15, 2023, at age 79. Born in Minnedosa, Manitoba, Dr. Sandilands initially attended theUniversity of Alberta (Uof A) for sciences before entering the U of A dentistry program, from which he received his dental degree in 1965. After graduating at age 20, he started practising with Dr. Millard Blackburn, but Dr. Sandilands couldn’t write prescriptions until he was age 21! Along with Drs. Don Gilmour and Bill Mitchell, he went on to establish a group practice, which at the time was not the conventional model for practising dentistry. In 1987, Dr. Sandilands sustained neck and shoulder injuries in an auto accident that ended his career as a practising dentist. He was heartbroken to lose his longtime profession but worked tirelessly to find an alternate space within dentistry. He went on to work as a practice broker and practice management consultant and eventually started his own company in 1989, offering consulting and advisory services in practice management and personal development. Dr. Sandilands contributed to the dental program at U of A and began giving guest lectures in 1974. He was an associate clinical professor at the U of A faculty of dentistry from 1991–95, a time during which his daughter Kathryn was also a dentistry student. “My dad loved dentistry and felt it was important to give back to the profession that had given him so much. He loved his time in organized dentistry. He taught me the responsibility and joy that comes from earning the trust of those you serve,” says Dr. Kathryn Sandilands, now a dentist practising in Edmonton. Dr. Sandilands had a proud legacy of taking on leadership roles within the profession. Lyle Best, a past chairman of CDSPI, remembers Dr. Sandilands as a great ambassador for the profession. “Dick had the ability to find middle ground on contentious issues without equal. I will miss his guidance, wisdom and friendship” says Best. Dr. Sandilands served as the Edmonton and District Dental Society’s president as well as president of the Western Canada Dental Society. In 1988–89, he became the Alberta Dental Association president. He was Governor for Alberta on the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) Board from 1988–92, joined CDA’s Executive Council from 1992–96 before taking on the highest office as CDA President in 1998–99. Dr. Sandilands thrived in the realm of organized dentistry and formed many lifetime friendships through working for the profession. Dr. Debora Matthews, a member of CDA’s Advocacy Committee, recalls that “...Dick made significant contributions to his profession at large and improved the quality of life of his many appreciative patients.” Dr. Sandilands is survived by his wife Marjorie, their children Kathryn (David) and Bryan (Gillian) and five grandchildren. 38 | 2023 | Issue 5 Obituaries
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