Academic Dentistry in Canada honoured at the 12th Annual Gies Awards
On March 18, 2019, the 12th Annual William J. Gies Awards for Vision, Innovation and Achievement honoured the Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry (ACDF) for Innovation in the category of Public-Private Partner. This award recognizes the invaluable contribution made by the ACFD Academic Affairs Committee, notably, Drs. Anne Charbonneau, Marie Dagenais, Sylvie Morin and Joanne Walton in creating the ACFD Educational Framework for the Development of Competency in Dental Programs.
The ACFD educational framework is a conceptual tool to help develop competency within Canadian undergraduate dental curricula. It identifies five key areas that represent global complex skills, knowledge, and behaviours that graduates of Canadian dental schools must demonstrate to enter general dental practice. The key competencies are patient-centred care, professionalism, communication and collaboration, practice and information management, and health promotion.
Also recognized at this years award ceremony was McGill Universitys Faculty of Dentistry. The Gies award for Vision Academic Dental Institution was presented to the Faculty of Dentistry for its Service in the Community Program, which provides free dental care for Montreals underserved populations. The program helped students and residents identify the needs of vulnerable groups in the community and undertake initiatives to better serve them.
While Dr. Dagenais left her role at McGill University in 2015 to assume the role of Director of Examinations and later Executive Director and Registrar of the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB), she was honoured to be invited to attend the award ceremony for her contributions to the ACFD educational frameworks. It was a privilege to have been a part of these two organizations that are being recognized for their contributions to dentistry. In my role as Associate Dean, I was afforded the opportunity to work with an amazing group of people representing academic dentistry across the country and I am so pleased to see the work of these individuals being recognized through this prestigious award.
Named for the Father of Contemporary Dental Education and Research, William J. Gies, Ph.D., the Gies Awards honour individuals and organizations that exemplify the highest standards in oral health, dental education, research, and leadership.