Coming Together Around Admissions What makes a great future dentist? A national gathering at McGill University in Montreal explored new ways to identify talent, support diversity and strengthen admissions across Canada. The Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry (ACFD) and Canadian Dental Association (CDA) Admissions Conference, held at McGill University’s Faculty Club in Montreal in March 2026, brought together a diverse group of educators, administrators and students to promote discussion and facilitate learning on new approaches used in recruitment and selection for health professional programs. Another goal of the conference was to provide information and opportunities for reflection to support the development of calls for research proposals. The conference was held a day before a meeting of the CDA Committee on Dental School Admission Assessment Tools (CDSAAT). Representatives from Canadian dental schools met to discuss how the group will evaluate and refine admissions methods through CDA-funded research. The committee’s goal is to ensure that admissions tools are rigorous, fair and grounded in evidence and evolve alongside the profession they support. “This initiative reflects CDA’s commitment under our Strategic Plan to work closely with academic institutions and student leaders to advance the profession and help ensure Canadians continue to have access to high-quality oral health care,” says Dr. Aaron Burry, CEO of CDA, who attended the conference. “By engaging directly with dental schools and academic groups, we are making good on our promise to be an active partner in strengthening the future of dentistry in Canada.” “We’re convening the people who are directly involved in selecting the next generation of dentists and asking some fundamental questions about how we do that well,” says Isabelle Gingras, CDA’s program and services advisor. “That means looking closely at admission tools, understanding how they’re being used across the Dr. Paul Allison, executive director of ACFD, co-host of the conference with CDA. Dr. Elham Emami, dean of the McGill University Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, shares her perspective at the conference. 8 | 2026 | Issue 4
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