CDA AwardWinners Dr. Huma Sharief The mentorship programwas my initiation into the mechanics of the support and encouragement offered by theMDA. It was only natural that after graduating I would give back to the very program that changed my own life. For the last four years, it has been an honour to serve in this committee, alongside with my co-chair, Dr. Fedorowich, who is my guiding light mentor, voice of reason and friend for life. At some point, we have all been mentored or we serve as a mentor to others. May I take this time to thank all of those who have changed the course of our lives and who continue to inspire and bring joy and hope in their own way. ~Dr. Huma Sharief Mentorship Advancement Award This award recognizes dentists or dentist-led groups who have improved the sense of community among Canadian dentists through volunteer mentorship and shared learning. Drs. Craig Fedorowich and Huma Sharief have dedicated themselves to the Manitoba Dental Association’s (MDA) Mentorship Program. In partnership with the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, it is one of the MDA’s flagship member programs. They have organized up to 200 mentors and students each year since 2019, offering professional development and ongoing mentor support through lectures, events and other materials. The program fosters a supportive community for students entering the profession and this support extends beyond their student years. MDA dentists have the chance to contribute through this program that includes a diverse representation of the profession, with rural, urban, general practitioners and dental specialist involvement. Drs. Fedorowich and Sharief were joint recipients of the award. Dr. Craig Fedorowich It is an honour to be recognized by one’s peers. It is the essence of a true mentor, to be someone who gives their time and knowledge without intrusion. While the world wide web and social media offer a veritable infinite amount of information, there is no one better than a mentor to offer individual guidance, distilling the milieu of information. I find that my mentors are often my colleagues, and I can think of no better mentor than the one I’ve had as my colleague, Dr. Huma Sharief. Let’s focus on helping those early in our good profession as much as we can. ~Dr. Craig Fedorowich Steve Jennex has served as executive director of the Nova Scotia Dental Association (NSDA) for many years, offering exceptional leadership and support to the dentists of Nova Scotia. He actively advocates for oral health, participates in awareness campaigns, navigates program changes, and mentors young dental professionals. He is a respected collaborator and leader in dentistry, locally, provincially and nationally. He has contributed to many CDA committees, including the Economics Consortium and Technical Submission working group. He leads with wisdom, perspective, balance and diplomacy. His work has garnered respect and admiration from his colleagues and have made a meaningful impact on the Canadian dental profession. Steve Jennex I’d like to express my thanks and appreciation to the nominating and awards committees of the Nova Scotia Dental Association and the Canadian Dental Association for this honour. I’d especially like to thank my spouse, Heather Ann, for her support. These are times of both great challenges and great opportunities for the dental profession in Canada. And right now, we all need to be special friends of dentistry and keep rowing in the same direction. I’m grateful to be part of the team and I thank you for this recognition. Special Friend of Canadian Dentistry Award This award is conferred on an individual or organization outside of the dental profession in appreciation for exemplary support or service to Canadian dentistry and to the profession as a whole. 19 Issue 4 | 2024 |
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTE5MTI=