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Dean and Associate Dean Receive BCDA Awards; Faculty and Alumni Among Winners The British Columbia Dental Association (BCDA) honoured many individuals at their annual Toothfairy Gala in Vancouver on March 9, 2013, including UBC Dentistry faculty and alumni.
President’s Award to Dean Dr. Charles Shuler (C) receiving the President’s Award from the BCDA. He is seen here with Ms. Jocelyn Johnston, executive director of the BC Dental Association, and Dr. Richard Wilczek, president of the BC Dental Association.
This year the BCDA bestowed one of their highest annual honours, the President’s Award, on Dr. Charles Shuler, professor and dean of UBC Dentistry. Shuler was lauded for his significant impact on dental students, new graduates and dentistry in BC. The gala’s program guide notes: “Dean Charles Shuler has brought dental education closer to every corner of our great province.” The dean regularly travels across BC, visiting dental societies to promote the Faculty of Dentistry and its dental programs.
Dr. Christopher Zed (C) receiving an Award of Merit from the BCDA. He is seen here with Ms. Jocelyn Johnston, executive director of the BC Dental Association, and Dr. Richard Wilczek, president of the BC Dental Association.
Known for his stewardship, Shuler has changed the admission rules for dental school to ensure 90 percent of the students come from BC; has implemented several graduate programs, including Endodontics, Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry; and has expanded outreach programs to serve the marginalized and complex patients in the Metro Vancouver area and beyond. The BCDA particularly hails the close working relationship he has fostered between the provincial association and UBC Dentistry. Through this alliance, the dean promoted and expanded the Summer Student Practitioner Program, which enables third-year dental students to work in a private practice environment. By working closely with the BCDA, Shuler also realized his goal of helping students better transition from dental students to competent practitioners—through development of the Dental Mentorship Program, which the BCDA describes as “the perfect partnership between UBC and the BCDA.”
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Award of Merit from BCDA to Associate Dean A BCDA Award of Merit was given to Dr. Christopher Zed for his many contributions to the field of dentistry. Zed is associate dean of Strategic and External Affairs, and head of Postgraduate and Hospital Programs. He is also director of the UBC General Practice Residency Program. “His leadership and diligence,” the BCDA writes, “led to the inclusion of dentistry in a hospital setting when many believed it didn’t belong— dentistry has become a well-respected, state-ofthe-art program at Vancouver General Hospital.” The award also recognizes Zed as a respected practitioner and strong advocate and supporter of research, education and care in all environments. Zed is especially known for his work in underprivileged communities in the Lower Mainland, across the province and overseas in Vietnam and Cambodia where he regularly volunteers to support patient care.
More BCDA Awards to Faculty and Alumni Distinguished Service Awards were presented to professor emeritus Dr. Robert Priddy; Dr. Saida Rasul, past part-time faculty member; and Dr. Ken Stones, part-time faculty member and active volunteer dentist in the Volunteer Community Clinic Program. Awards of Merit were also bestowed on Dr. Doug Johnston, retired faculty member, former director of Graduate Pediatric Dentistry and former head of Pediatric Dentistry at BC Children’s Hospital; Dr. Ken Lee, part-time faculty member; and Dr. Robert McDougall, UBC Dentistry alumnus from the Class of 1991.