Probe&Mirror www.ao.org/chapter/montreal
Newsletter • Summer 2020
This Month: Articles: • Holistic Dentistry; Full of... • Humanitarian Mission to Uganda International Convention in Los Angeles Scientific Report Ometz Report: Our Garden
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Dear colleagues,
Membership in Alpha Omega not only gives you access to continuing education. It also provides a powerful support network for AO dentists worldwide. It is the only organization, albeit nonsectarian, that will stand up for Jews and Jewish values. Most importantly, if you want to have influence with governing bodies, universities, etc. you need strength in numbers.
This issue of the Probe and Mirror is a testament to a year like no other. For many of us, “Twenty-Twenty” will be remembered as the year in which most of us spent weeks at home while thousands of people (some close to us) died from a virus pandemic and the world slid into an economic nosedive never seen in our lifetimes. Our profession was not spared. Countless dentists suffered serious economic distress. Some older dentists just threw in the towel. The effects of this pandemic will continue to reverberate as many people will no longer be able to afford dental care.
This first year as president has been a learning experience and it is an honour to continue to serve for another one. Of course, without the invaluable help and mentorship from our Mainline members, my task would have been much more challenging.
While graduating with a DMD is a great achievement full of promise, many of today’s young dentists will have a serious struggle in the years to come. Who knows how and when the world economy will recover?
Special thanks go to Drs. Mel Schwartz, Elliot Goldenberg, Harry Wise, and Michael Tenenbaum, the committed “elder statesmen” without whose knowledge and advice we could not function.
The shift in the world order has caused the cancellation of all “live” events such as the Closing Dinner, the president’s Cocktail party, Israel Bonds Event, and live continuing education courses with meals and camaraderie. However, we are resilient and there is always a silver lining to every adversity. We have circumvented some of these difficulties with the use of remote access to our businesses, continuing education webinars and online group meetings with platforms like Zoom.
Jonathan Werbitt, our continuing education manager and new president of the Federation of Dental Societies of Greater Montreal is working on getting us the best CE available. Barry Dolman is an invaluable source of knowledge and experience, having completed an eight-year stint as the president of the Order of Dentists of Quebec. Mainline members Michael Wiseman, Joseph Szwimer, Randi Luxenburg, Fred Elbaz, Jeremie Abikhzer, Michael Beybelezer, and David Baker are all invaluable in keeping our society afloat.
The graduating Alpha Pi members from McGill and Université de Montréal received their Alpha Omega certificates at a very successful virtual meeting organized by the very capable Student Liaison officer, Dr. Sam Malkinson.
Special mention goes out to our very promising future leaders, Alpha Pi students Stephanie Wiseman and Rachel Korman, who are already demonstrating great initiative and superb leadership abilities. I wish you all health and strength.
The continuing education paradigm has shifted, at least for the coming year, into a virtual world. All courses sponsored by the Ordre des dentistes du Québec, the Quebec Dental Surgeons Association, Alpha Omega-Mount Royal Dental Society and the Fédération des sociétés dentaires du grand Montréal will be given exclusively online.
Marcelo Bercovici
The online course given by Dr. Benny Saleh was an unprecedented success BECAUSE of our membership in AO International. We have the ability to reach AO members around the world. Our future courses can also be broadcast to an unlimited audience (although only AO members get CE credits).
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P&M SUMMER 2020