CDA Oasis is delighted to bring you the 2023-24 CDA Honours and Awards Program recipients. The CDA Awards recognize individuals across the country who have demonstrated unwavering passion and support for the dental profession in Canada and exhibited consistent commitment to the oral health of Canadians.
This year’s awards were presented on April 12 in Toronto, Ontario.
CDA Medal of Honour
The Medal of Honour is CDA’s highest award given in recognition of a lifetime of outstanding service and professional achievement to which can be attributed significant change.
2023-24 Medal of Honour Recipient
Dr. Bernie Dolansky
A leader, innovator and trail blazer, Dr. Bernie Dolansky has been at the forefront of many of Canadian dentistry’s most significant moments. He has served as President of the Ottawa Dental Society, the Ontario Dental Association, the Canadian Dental Association, and has chaired many committees and working groups.
Shortly after opening his endodontic practice in Ottawa in the 1970s, he embarked on the innovative practice of offering endodontics lectures to general practitioners in the area. This allowed GPs to expand their practices and offer more comprehensive endodontic care to patients.
As ODA President, he played a monumental role in leading its “No Dentists, No Capitation” campaign. These efforts led to the defeat of adopting an American style of managed care introduced in Ontario or in Canada.
A few years later while at CDA, Bernie became involved in the trailblazing activity of electronic data interchange, or ‘EDI.’ He served on a small but mighty committee that were committed to finding a new and more efficient way to send dental claims to insurers. He led contract negotiations and oversaw the rollout of the complete national electronic claims submissions system called CDAnet. The proud history and tangible benefits of CDAnet are still being felt to this day.
While at CDA, he negotiated contracts and arranged for FDI to meet in Vancouver. And in the early 2000s, he became Chair and President of the Dentistry Canada Fund. He went on to Chair the Canadian National Institute of Health.
Dr. Dolansky is active in the the Jewish Community Council of Ottawa, the Soloway Jewish Community Centre, and the Ottawa Hospital, and he is actively involved in the dental industry through transition planning services for dentists.
Throughout his career, his leadership skills have shone brightly. He has taken on the challenges before him with determination and foresight and has made a truly positive difference to his profession and community.
Please click on the video below to watch Dr. Dolansky's acceptance speech!
