Canadians have an important voice to add to the conversation

Dr. Lily Garcia, Chair of the ADEA Board of Directors with Dr. Daniel Haas Dean, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto and President, Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry at ADEA meeting in Boston, March 2015.

Message from Dr. Dan Haas, Dean, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto and President, Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry

The annual meeting of the American Dental Education Association – held this year in Boston between March 7th and 10th – provides dental educators across Canada and the U.S. an essential glimpse into the state of dental education. This meeting fosters dialogue among academics on the challenges and issues we face in dental education and creates a collective forum from which we can advance our common goals of improving teaching and learning.

One of the strengths of ADEA is its pursuit of collaboration and it is very receptive to the engagement of Canadian schools to learn of our experience.  Importantly, this engagement operates in both directions: ADEA’s president and CEO, Dr. Rick Valachovic, has participated in the strategic planning processes of two Canadian dental schools.

The more integrated we become in these pan-nation conversations, the more we stand to benefit from being a part of the process. The more we leverage our collective experience – both Canadian and American – the further we raise the bar for dental education in both our countries. When we sit down at the table together, this is made infinitely more possible.