Mary Helen Garsch BA, CDAII
The first half of my ODAA Presidency has been both thrilling and rewarding. There is much going on with our Association, and I am so proud to be involved in these exciting times in this capacity.
In June 2008, we had a meeting with the Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council (HPRAC) and our presentation appeared to be well received by the members and staff of HPRAC.
After lobbying very hard for several years, we have transitioned into an active stage of the movement toward regulation. Yet there are still people in dental offices who are not aware of what is happening with regard to regulation. I encourage members who are "in the know" to take the time to share the regulation information that is in this and previous Journal magazines with your co-workers. It is beneficial for everyone to make the process toward regulation as seamless as possible.
I recently had a member tell me that some of her co-workers are no longer members and had no idea that dental assistants in Ontario are moving toward regulation. Please encourage those dental assistants to contact the ODAA office for information and to find out what they need to do to reinstate their certification. The transition will be much easier if they do it now rather than later.
In July 2008, I was invited to attend a meeting sponsored by the ODA at the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) in Toronto. The topic was Programs for High-Risk Children. As a dental assistant working in public health, it was a valuable experience to see all levels of dentistry and the provincial government collaborating on a very important issue in our field. As we continue to find children who are in need of extensive dental treatment, it becomes apparent that early intervention is the key to prevention of dental disease through the education of caregivers. This is an international problem, and it was helpful to hear about the successful programs that researchers and experts in the field have developed in their countries.
In September, Judy Melville and I will attend the Canadian Dental Assistants Association (CDAA) meeting in Fredericton. This will give us an opportunity to meet with the other corporate (provincial) members of the CDAA and to meet the new Executive Director, Ms. Betty Daniels.
The Canadian Dental Assistants Association (CDAA) changed their structure several years ago to reflect a federation. Each province is considered a corporate member and has a say and a vote regarding the purpose, goals and functions of the CDAA. Individual membership issues are addressed at the provincial level while the CDAA puts their focus on national issues. The ODAA is committed to the CDAA, as we see merit in a national organization focused on national goals and advocacy.
With the coming of fall, certification/membership renewal is fast approaching. Volunteers at the affiliate level have worked together to plan for upcoming local meetings. These meetings, provided at no charge, are for the benefit of all members and attendance is a simple and economical way for you to accumulate credits to keep up your certification.
I am looking forward to 2009, when our Association will celebrate our 75th anniversary of incorporation as a not-for-profit organization. Imagine if we were to become a regulated health profession in 2009. What a way to show our success . . . a true milestone for dental assisting in Ontario!
Mary Helen Garsch BA, CDAII
President, Ontario Dental Assistants Association