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Volume1 Issue4
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DistinguishedServiceAward
TheDistinguishedServiceAward isgiven to recognizeoutstandingcontributions to thedental profession, the
dental communityor theoralhealthofCanadiansat large, inagivenyearor foroutstanding serviceovera
numberof years. Itmayalso recognizeoutstandingcontributionsat theacademic, corporate, specialty society,
council, commissionor committee level. TheDistinguishedServiceAwardwaspresented to
3 recipients:
Dr.WalterDobrovolsky
of Edmonton,
Dr. LouisDubé
of Sherbrooke,Quebec, and
Ms. SusanMatheson
ofOttawa.
Dr.WalterDobrovolskyhaspassionately
advocated for hisprofession, hispatients
andhis specialty, oral andmaxillofacial
surgery (OMFS), for over 35years. Hehas
worked tirelessly toobtaingovernment
funding for patient programs, including
theAlbertaHealthOral andMaxillofacial
Devices andServices Program for patients
requiringdental servicesdue to severe
oral/facial conditions. Healsoplayeda key
role in theAlbertagovernment fundingof total
prosthetic replacement of the temporomandibular
joint (TMJ) and thedevelopment of anational,
hospital-basedOMFSprocedure list. Through
his involvement atAlbertaHealthServices, he
was instrumental ingettingdentists toaccess
electronichealth records. Hehasbeen recognized
withaDistinguishedServiceAward from the
CanadianAssociationofOral andMaxillofacial
Surgeons andhas thedistinctionof beingonly
the secondCanadian tobe inducted into the
AmericanSocietyof TMJ Surgeons.
No success is possiblewithoutmentorship, support andhelp,” saidDr.Dobrovolsky. “I’d like to thankall ofmy
educators andmentorswho instilled inmea love of learningand scientific curiosity.”
Formanyyears, Dr. LouisDubéhasplayed
apivotal roleatCDA, servingaspresident
from2003–04andas acommittee
member for ahost of initiatives. As a
member of CDA’sAdvocacyCommittee, a
positionhehasheld since2007,
Dr. Dubé’sworkhas led to improvements
inmanyoral healthcareprograms,
including theVeteransAffairsCanadaprogram
andHealthCanada’sNon-InsuredHealthBenefits
program. Hehas also servedasCDA’s French
language spokesperson, providingacritical link
toMembersof Parliament andmediaoutlets
inQuebec. Hisprofessional dedicationand
generosityhaveearnedhim theadmirationof
colleagues across thecountry.
Iam reallyhonoured thatCDAnominatedme for this prestigious award. I take this opportunity to saymerci
beaucoup to theCDA staff—for everything that youdid formeand for theprofession,” saidDr.Dubé.
For thepast 25years, SusanMatheson
hasbeencommitted toherworkat the
CommissiononDental Accreditationof
Canada (CDAC),where she is thedirector.
Ms.Matheson is at theheart of CDAC
operations,workingwith staffandahost
of volunteerswhilehandling its rigorous
processeswithgraceandanunrelenting
workethic.Whileboth staffandvolunteers
appreciateMs.Matheson for her intelligence,
integrityandperseverance, it isher positive
outlookandcaringpersonality thatmake them
feel fortunate tocount her as acolleague. In2000,
Ms.Matheson received theOutstandingAlumnus
Award from the facultyof dentistryatDalhousie
University.
Manyof youwhohavebeen involved in theCommissionknow that itdoesn’t functionon its own,” said
Ms.Matheson. “I reallydo think this award is about recognizing theCommission, ourvolunteers, ourboard
members, andmost importantly, theCommission staff. “
