21
Volume2 Issue5
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N
ews and
E
vents
Exceptional individualswere recognized for their contributions to the dental profession, the dental community or the
oral health ofCanadians at the annualCDAaward ceremonies held inOttawa inApril 2015.
CDAAWARDWINNERS:
RECOGNIZINGEXCELLENCE
Medal ofHonour
TheMedal ofHonour is thehighestawardconferredbyCDA. It isgiven toadentist in recognitionofa lifetime
ofoutstanding serviceandprofessional achievement to thebenefitof thedental profession, thedental
communityand societyat large, and towhom significant changecanbeattributed. Thebreadthand scope
ofachievementare significant factors ingranting thisaward, asare the individual’scontributions to thegoals
andobjectivesofCDA. Thisyear’s recipientwas
Dr.GordonThompson
of Edmonton.
Dr. Thompson
hasdevotedhiscareer to
advancing thedental profession inCanadaand
abroad. Inhisdistinguishedacademiccareer,
he servedasassociatedean in the faculty
ofdentistryat theUniversityof Toronto,
andasdeanof the facultyofdentistryat
theUniversityofAlberta.Hehasbeena
major influence inorganizeddentistryas
past-presidentofmanynational organizations,
including theAssociationofCanadianFaculties
ofDentistryand theCanadianDental Regulatory
AuthoritiesFederation, andasexecutivedirector
and registrarof theAlbertaDentalAssociationand
College—a rolehehasperformed for thepast
21years.Dr. Thompson iswidely respected for
his leadership inguiding theprofession through
complex issuesover theyearsand for the inspiration
andmentorshiphehasprovided tomanydentists.
Iwould like to thankCDA formaking theMedal ofHonourawardpossibleandhonouringme in thisway.
It is a signal honour to receive the support and recognitionof one’s peers.Receiving this awardunderscores the
support of family, colleagues and staff.”
HonoraryMembership
TheHonoraryMembershipaward isgiven toan individual (dentistornon-dentist)whohasmadeanoutstanding
contribution to thedentalprofession, thedental community,or theoralhealthofCanadiansoverasustained
periodof timeat theacademic, corporate, specialtysociety, council, commissionorcommittee level.An
outstandingcontributionat thenational level isaprincipleconsideration. Thebreadthandscopeofachievement
isasignificant factor indetermining thisaward. TheCDAHonoraryMembershipwaspresented thisyear to
Dr.GillesLavigne
ofMontreal.
Dr. Lavigne
, deanof the facultyofdentistry
at theUniversityofMontreal, hasmade
exceptional contributions to the
dental profession. Asa researcher, he is
internationally recognized in thefieldof
bruxismand sleepdisordersand leads the
fieldof orofacial pain research. Admiredby
colleaguesasan inspiring leader andexcellent
communicator,Dr. Lavignehasguided thework
of international, national, andprovincial research-
relatedorganizationsandhasmadeoutstanding
contributions todental educationat theUniversity
ofMontreal.On topofhismanycommitments in
research, teaching, anduniversityadministration,
healso remainsadedicatedpractitioner. Inhis
acceptance speech,Dr. Lavigne talkedabout the
importanceof collaboration.
Ourgoal is interdisciplinary,wehave toworkall together. Ialways remind thedeanofmedicine that about
70%ofCanadians, of all ages, are seeingonehealth careprovideronceayear—it’sus.Wehavean important
role in screening, detection, and inguidingpatients.”
