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Volume3 Issue3
CDA
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RANDALL
CROUTZE
Dentistry’sTroubleshooter
Dr. Randall Croutze isnot abig fanof sports, buthe’s started listening toanall-sports radio station
inhis car everyday. “I didn’twant tobe inagroupconversationabout theEdmontonOilersand
justnodmyhead, notparticipate,”heexplains. “I’m still not absolutely interested in sports, but
that’swhat I listen to.” It’sapractical solution toapotential difficultyfirstpointedoutbyhiswife,
Angela. “She toldme I need to learna littleabout sports if Iwant todobetter at this socializing
thing,”he laughs. Finding solutions toproblems, bigand small, is something inwhich the
Edmonton-baseddentist andnewCDApresident for 2016-17, excels.
Dr. Croutze’s talents inproblem solvingwerefirst recognized inhigh school,when the self-
professedmathwhizwonanaward forhis skills inmathematical problem solving. Then, asadental
student at theUniversityofAlberta (UofA), hebecamepresidentof theDentalUndergraduate
Society tohelp studentsfind solutions to theirproblems. “Iwasalways interested inproblem
solving, I guess,” saysDr. Croutze. “And I sawearlyon that I had some skills in that area so I’vebeen
able tohelp in thatway.”
Asapractisingdentist, hehasbeen recognized forhisachievements inhelpingothers resolve their
challenges.WhenDr. Croutze servedaspresidentof theEdmontonandDistrictDental Society in
2003, heused theopportunity todrawattention to theneedsof avulnerable
andunderservedcommunity indowntownEdmonton.Workingwith the
EdmontonCommunityFoundationand theAlbertaDentalAssociationand
College (ADA+C), hehelpedan inner citydental clinic secure the funds it
needed to sustain itsoperatingcosts.
In2004, he servedasa liaisonbetween studentsand staffat theUofAwhen
studentswereestablishingahealthclinic thatwouldprovidehealth services
toEdmonton’sunderserved, low-incomeyouth. TheSHINE (StudentHealth
Initiative for theNeedsof Edmonton) YouthCliniccontinues toprovidehealth
services toEdmonton’syouth,with freedental careprovidedmost Saturdays.
“It’sagreat experience for the studentsand it sensitizes them to the special
concernsof theclinic’spatients,”henotes.
Theoppositeof apathy
Apathy, according toDr. Croutze, isoneof thebiggest challenges facingdentistry. “Wehave
toengagewith the larger community to let themknowwe’re interested in resolving the
dilemmas theymayhave, assist them indevelopingpublicpolicyonhealthcare, andbe leaders
in transferringknowledge,”he says.Hewishesmorecolleagueswouldchoose toparticipate
inorganizeddentistry. “Theyarebusy in their livesbut it’sunfortunatebecause I believeevery
dentist couldbedoingmy job (asCDApresident). Thisdoesnot requirea special skill set.”
Yet itdoes requireacommitment to theprofession. “I’ve learned that thevalueof organized
dentistry is theability toworkbehind the scenes tohelpdentistsget through theday smoothly
We have to engage
with the larger community to
let themknowwe’re interested
in resolving the dilemmas
theymayhave, assist them in
developing public policy on
health care, andbe leaders in
transferring knowledge.
