CDA Award Winners Each year, the CDA Awards program honours individuals or organizations from across Canada who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to the dental profession and have shown a steadfast commitment to advancing the oral health of Canadians. This year’s honourees were formally recognized during the CDA Awards Luncheon in May 2025 in Toronto. The luncheon is a CDA premier event, and CDA thanks LISTERINE for its generous support, serving as the exclusive Platinum Sponsor of the event. Dr. Philip Poon has dedicated his career to improving dental care for underserved populations, including the working poor, refugees, Indigenous peoples, seniors and those with special needs. His unwavering commitment to equity in oral health is reflected in decades of community service and leadership. A past president of the Winnipeg Dental Society and the Manitoba Dental Association (MDA), Dr. Poon was a founder of the MDA Mentorship Program and chair of the MDA’s Committee on Dental Care for Residents in Long-Term Care Facilities. Nationally, he served over 10 years on CDA’s Government Relations and Advocacy Committee and chaired the NIHB Working Group for more than 20 years, advocating for improved access to dental care for First Nations and Inuit communities. His outreach efforts include volunteer dentistry at the Siloam Mission and St. Amant Centre, organizing clinics for refugees, and leadership roles with Manitoba Harvest, a food bank serving the local communities. Dr. Poon’s service is a powerful reflection of compassion in action— uplifting both the profession and the people it serves. Dr. Philip Poon CDA Medal of Honour The CDA Medal of Honour is the highest award conferred by CDA. It is given to a dentist in recognition of a lifetime of outstanding service and professional achievement to the benefit of the dental profession, the dental community and society at large, and to which can be attributed significant change. I felt a mix of disbelief and deep humility, looking at the past recipients—leaders, mentors, pioneers I’ve long admired. My thanks to CDA for this recognition, and to the MDA, especially Rafi Mohammed and the late Ross McIntyre, whose friendship and support have meant so much over my 45 years in dentistry. Much of my recent advocacy has focused on improving oral health in Indigenous communities. I’m deeply grateful to the leaders and individuals who trusted me with their stories and insights—your courage and openness have shaped my understanding. To the teams at Indigenous Services Canada and Health Canada, thank you for your commitment, even when our conversations were tough. I’ve never doubted our shared goal: better care for First Nations communities. To my wife Laurie, and our daughters Lauren, Stephanie, and Ana—your love and support are the foundation of everything I’ve been able to do. Dentistry has the power to change lives. I’ve seen it, and I believe in it. Thank you for this tremendous honour. 11 Issue 4 | 2025 |
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