(l to r) Dr. Walter Siqueira, MP Corey Tochor, Dr. Kirk Preston (l to r) Dr. Stuart MacDonald, MP Peter Fragiskatos, Dr. Marc Mollot, Mishail Bhatia approval before students can begin. “Only about one-quarter of the preauthorizations we sent out were approved,” he says. “By the time you learn it’s declined, the patient is disappointed, and it’s too late.” That delay, Dr. Kwak told MPs, directly affects whether students can become competent clinicians. “Third and fourth year is when we’re actually performing the procedures,” he said. “The four years of dental school are designed to prepare us to go directly into private practice, without a residency like medical doctors.” But with fewer patients coming to teaching clinics and preauthorization denials, students can struggle to meet their clinical requirements. “I saw my classmates anxious about not graduating on time due to delays and denials.” His ask to MPs was specific: “I hope the federal government can provide a solution specifically for dental schools to make sure we can graduate on time and with the skills we need.” Dr. Kwak said being part of the delegation was empowering. “It was an unexpected honour to represent Canadian dental students,” he said. “But I was happy to speak on their behalf so that people know what challenges we face.” Building Relationships “One of the main purposes of Days on the Hill is to create and maintain relationships with officials in Ottawa, regardless of political party,” Dr. Ward says. “At the booth, someone we spoke with last year would come by. We’d re-engage with them and build on their knowledge of the work we do.” Dr. Preston describes the event as the best opportunity to meet MPs and policy makers face-to-face. “The conversations matter because they build trust over time, positioning CDA as a respectful, reliable voice that officials can return to when oral health issues come up again,” he says. With so many groups competing for attention on Parliament Hill, Dr. Hapak says the work that is done between annual events also matters. “Days on the Hill is an effective way to advocate on behalf of the dental profession. We get heard and we can develop many new relationships,” she says. “Beyond Days on the Hill, CDA engages continuously on national programs like the CDCP and promotes policies that improve oral health and access to care.” For Dr. Kwak, the experience was one of discovery. “I hadn’t thought of myself as someone with the capacity for advocacy work, but I’m pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoy it,” he says. “In the future, I’d love to do more of this and contribute to the profession.” 11 Issue 1 | 2026 |
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