President Winspear representing PFA Down Under with ADA President Kathleen Ross

The Brilliant Sun Sets in the West...

As the 2006 PFA Annual Meeting closed, our newly elected President from Australia, William Winspear, was on the move. We hardly had unpacked from Las Vegas when we were packing for New Orleans. So the adventures began that would take our President to nearly every part of the globe. Every event was a special happening and every touch of our President turned to PFA gold. As most of these have already been reported, we catch our breath from these whirlwind spectaculars to report on who this special man is.

Dr. William Winspear is not your typical dentist, as the PFA leadership has discovered. His career has been as impressive as it has been diverse. His administrative talents, his highly developed powers of communication, and his strong commitment to forge new horizons for the dental profession have made him a truly unique individual internationally.

Bill was born in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, but spent most of his life in Sydney. He attended the North Sydney Boys High School, earning sporting blues recognition for his abilities in swimming and water polo. He then enrolled in the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Sydney, graduating with his degree of Bachelor of Dental Science in 1972. He entered into private practice but taught at his alma mater for 16 years in the Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, and lectured in the Department of Preventative Dentistry. He also gave continuing education courses to dental technicians and to clinical assistants through the State Department of Technical and Further Education.

During this time Bill earned a Master of Dental Surgery in 1978. He returned to full-time study at the University of New SouthWales to earn hisMaster of Health Planning. By 1980 he was admitted to fellowship by examination into the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons.

By 1982 Dr. Winspear was offered the position of DEPUTY Superintendent of the United Dental Hospital of Sydney, the largest public dental facility in Australia. He also was appointed as the Chief Dental Officer of the State's Department of Health and a Senior Ministerial Advisor, full time in 1987.

He established the State Orthodontic Service and managed legislative changes in the areas of water fluoridation, peer assessment of dental care, and the administration of general anesthesia and intravenous sedation in dental practice. Upon completion of his termas the Chief Dental Officer, Bill traveled to Great Britain where he gained experience in private hospitals and aged care administration and planning.

He returned to Australia in 1992 to accept appointments with the New South Wales Branch of the Australian Dental Association, the Faculty of Dentistry for the University of Sydney, and with the National Health Insurance Commission. He later undertook managerial positions with Medibank Private, Australia's largest private health benefits organization. By 2000 he became a private consultant in health services to State and Federal government departments, corporations, and professional organizations.

Dr. Winspear has maintained a close relationship with the Australian Dental Association and has served on many committees. He was the inaugural Chairman of the New SouthWales Recent Graduates Committee in 1975;Director of the New SouthWalesDentists Sickness and Insurance Company; and Trustee of the Dentists Superannuation Fund. He received the Association's Service medallion in 2004.

In dental affairs, Bill has been Director of the Sydney University Faculty of Dentistry Foundation, President of the New South Wales Branch of the Australian Prosthodontic Society, and member of the Dental Public Health Sub-committee of the National Health and Medical Research Committee. Currently he is Director of the Royal Australian College of Dental Surgeons Foundation. He is a Fellow in PFA, ICD, ADI, and of Delta Sigma Delta Fraternity since 1983.

Dr. Winspear has been a radio and television representative promoting several community-based oral health care programs. He has even taught actors how to portray dentists on TV.

In community activities, Bill has served the Salvation Army (as State Chairman for Dentistry for the Red Shield Appeal); the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), Australia's largest center for training of the performing arts for 23 years; and Director of Seaborn, Broughton and Walford Foundation, a charitable organization to benefit the Australian theater.

Serving as the first international PFA President from outside the United States is just one example of Dr. Winspear's dedication to the profession of dentistry. His leadership this year has been fast and furious, trekking all over the globe.

He has earned PFA many new friends with his easy smile and gentle charm. His tact and firmness have returned many old friends to the fold.

On behalf of the membership, Bill, thanks for the memories.