9
Volume1 Issue2
|
CDA
at
W
ork
Givingback tohis community
InNewfoundland,Dr.MacDonaldalso foundanopportunity tobecome
involvedwith theNewfoundlandDentalAssociationandhe seized the
chance to takepart. “Theyneeded someyoungblood, someonewhowasn’t
shyabout speaking theirmind.”The summerof 1975, CDAheld itsfirst
convention inNewfoundland,wherehemet the leadersof theprofession
andhadhisfirst tasteof organizeddentistryat thenational level.
Whenaskedabouthismentors from theearlydaysof his career,Dr.
MacDonald replieswithouthesitation “Drs. CharlieDaly, JohnKing,Dave
Peters,MikeMaguire, BruceBowden—the leaders indental politics in
Newfoundlandat the timewho tookmeunder theirwingandencouraged
me.”Hecontinues, “Thesewerepeoplewhonotonlycaredabout their
patients, but alsocaredabout theirprofession. They felt itwasn’t enough
to justpractisedentistry—theyhada lotof other things tooffer to the
profession.”Hecreditshismentorswith instillinga senseof caring inhim
that still driveshisworkand for inspiringhim toachieveasmuchashehas.
Dr.MacDonaldhas servedorganizeddentistry inmanycapacities. Between
1981–83, he servedaspresidentof hisprovincial association. In1987, he
becameNLDAexecutivedirector, apositionhewouldhold for 18years.
He servedasbothaBoardmember andclinical examinerwith theNational
Dental ExaminationBoardofCanada (NDEB).Dr.MacDonaldacknowledges
oneof hismost fascinatingandchallenging taskswas servingon the
NationalHealthCareAdvisoryCommittee to
Correctional ServicesCanada, chairing the
committee for 3of the12yearshe served.
This federal government committee
was taskedwithadvisingCorrections
Canadaonall aspectsof healthcare
withinCanada’s federal institutions. In
2002, he startedhis involvementwith
CDA,wherehehas servedonavariety
of committeesandworkinggroups,
joining theBoardofDirectors in2005.
Hismotivation tomakeadifference inhis
community reachesbeyonddentistry,
intootherpartsof his life too.
Professional
Milestones
1975:DentaldegreefromDalhousieUniversity
1981–83:PresidentoftheNewfoundlandDental
Association
1985–97:MemberoftheNationalHealthCareAdvi-
soryCommitteetoCorrectionalServicesCanada(CSC)
1987–93:BoardmemberoftheNationalDental
ExaminationBoardofCanada(NDEB)
1987–2004:ExecutivedirectoroftheNewfoundland
andLabradorDentalAssociation(NLDA)
1994–97:ChairoftheHealthCareAdvisory
CommitteetoCSC
1995–2000:ClinicalexaminerforNDEB
1998:AwardofMerit–CDA
2002:OutstandingAlumnusAward–
DalhousieUniversity
2003:DistinguishedServiceAward–NLDA
2005:ElectedtotheCDABoardofDirectors
2011:LifeMembership–NLDA
