L-R, Trustees Ernesto Acuna and Joseph Harris, PFA President-elect Charles Eller, and retiring Chair Omar Campos

CANADA

Canadian Trustee Barry Dolman reports that the Gala Installation & Awards Dinner was held in Toronto on 10 April at the Royal Park Fairmont Hotel in the Upper Canadian Room. Distinguished Service Plaques were awarded to Drs. Bernard Dolansky and James R. Brookfield, past Presidents of the Canadian Dental Association for their distinguished and significant contributions to the profession and to the public they serve. Also recognized with Honourary Fellowship was Joel Neal for his longstanding service to the profession.

Over 125 attendees were present including Fellow Deborah Stymiest, CDA president-elect. She is the first woman to hold such office.

PFA Foundation Scholarships were presented to Rose Chgen and Patsy Yip of McGill University, Melania McLeod of Dalhousie University, Wailan Chan of Western Ontario University, Jeremie Berdugo of Universite de Montreal, John Juwan Park of U.B.B., Ashley Dykun of Manitoba University, Andrew Wong of Alberta University, and Audrey McNamara of the University of Toronto. Additional scholarships were given out at their local convocation ceremonies honouring the senior student governors went to Robyn White of Dalhousie University, Rania El-Hawary of McGill University, Raluca-Maria of the Universite de Montreal, Victor Duy Vit of Laval University, Eugene Chung of Alberta University, Amyn Allidina of the University of British Columbia, Gurinder Kler of Manitoba University, Sean Ostro of the University of Toronto, David Mac Pherson of Western Ontario University, and Ryan Kilistoff of Saskatchewan University.

More than 45 new Fellows were inducted into membership.

The Canada PFA continues their relationship with the Dentistry Canada Fund, which enables Canadian dentists to be credited for their donations to PFA. Through their relationship to the Canadian Endowment Fund, $2,500 U.S. dollars were returned to the PFA foundation last year.

The 2008 PFA Canada goals are to increase the independence of their Sections to reflect the set up of the U.S. sections. We also want to secure funding for a Web educational component to complement Dental Abstracts and Dental World.

Chile

Dr. Omar Campos attended the PFA Latin America Meeting in Sao Paulo, Brazil, last January and was honored with his PFA Retiring Section Chair plaque for his service to PFA Chile.

France

La Lettre de la Pierre Fauchard Academy from Trustee Herbert Ouvrard and Chair Maire-Laure Boy-Lefevre reports "Nous profitons de cette Lettre popur remercier a nouveau Monsieur Jean-Pierre LECOQ, Marie du 6 eme arrondissement de Paris, qui a eu l'amabilite de mettre a notre disposition la sale des marriages anisi que la sale attenante et nous a ainsi permis d'apporter un caractere trees prestigieux a cette ceremonie.

Monsieur Hubert Ouvrard a eu le plaisir d'accueillir et de presenter le nouveau President de la PFA, le Docteur William Winspear, venu tout specialement d'Australie.

Monsieur Herve Parfait, Tresorier de Conseil National de l'Ordre des Chirurgiens-dentistes, representant de l'Ordre a cette ceremonie, a remis ensuite au Docteur Winspear la medallie d'or des Chirurgien-denstistes francais.

La parole e ete donnee ensuite a Monsieur Winspear, tres honore d'etre present a cette ceremonie et recevoir la medaille du Conseil de l'Ordre. Le nouveau PFA President a felicite les membres de la Section francaise pour leur dynamisme.

Il a accueilli chaleureusement les nouveaux members et felicite les etudiuants boursiers.

Hong Kong

Justin Ng, Conference Secretariat, announced that they will be hosting the 31st Asia Pacific Dental Congress on 5-11 May, 2009, in Hong Kong. The main topics of discussion will be "Emerging Trends and Practices of Dentistry--Managing the Next Wave." The Congress will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and will be sponsored by the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine. For further information about attending, phone (852) 287-18896 or fax (852) 287-18898.

Netherlands

Chair Joost van der Pol reports holding their PFA Meeting in Utrecht, the center of the Netherlands, last March with some 45 Fellows in attendance. Three new Fellows were installed: Drs. Sven Dijkgraaf, Haakon Kuit, and Frank van der Harlen. The meeting topic was "Dental health care to children." Four speakers addressed the topic. And most importantly the snow has left the Netherlands preparing for Spring.

Uruguay

Dr. Walter Lieber Belli attended the PFA Latin America Meeting in Sao Paulo, Brazil, last January and participated in its presentations.

L-R, Dr. Walter Belli with President-elect Charles Eller and wife Gloria

Past Chair Bonnie Ferrell receiving Award from Chair Terry Brewick

New Fellows: (front row, L-R) Chair Terry Brewick, Melissa Hatzidakis, Roberta Shaklee, Denise Kassebaum, Bob Murphy, (middle row) John Raabe, Doug Heller, Brett Levin, Beth Krieder, Ellie Sachs, George Gatseos, Carole and Jim Englander, (back row) Neil Shoemaker, Jennifer Garza, Tom Pixley, Troy Fox, Michael Scheidt, Michael Varley, Chuck Danna, Sheldon Newman, Celia Turner, Sally Preston, and Dan Wilson

Joe's room at the Omni Hotel next to the CNN Center

L-R, Chair Chris Baboulas with awardee Frank Weine and President James Englander

Trustee Ernesto Acuna, Trustee Dan Castagna, Secretary General Richard Kozal, President James Englander, Professor Frank Weine, Judy Kozal, Trustee Joseph Harris, and Illinois Chair Chris Baboulas

Dr. Robert Boose receiving Awards from Chair Norman Becker

L-R, Trustee Richard Walsh, new Fellows Lisa Vouras, Medha Singh, Howard Zolot and Chairman Norman Becker

United States

Colorado

Chairman Terry Brewick reports holding the annual Section Meeting, which was held last October at the Columbine Country Club in Littleton to induct new Fellows. President James and Carole Englander were in attendance.

The ADA Treasurer Dr. Ed Leone addressed the some 76 participants. A special Award was presented to Immediate Past Chairman Bonnie Ferrell for her services on behalf of the Colorado Section.

Connecticut

Past President Howard Mark was honored at the January Session of the Yankee Dental Congress in Boston by being presented the prestigious James Etherington Award for leadership and dedication to organized dentistry over the years. As we PFA Fellows can attest, this award was well deserved. Dr. Mark joins Dr. Norman Becker of Massachusetts (2006) and Dr. David Stahl of New Hampshire (2007) as past recipients of the Award.

Chair Robin Santiago held their annual meeting at Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino last May. Drs. Jeanne Strathearn, past District 1 ADA Trustee, and Sedrick Rawlins were awarded the Distinguished Dentist plaques. Past Section Chair William MacDonald received the PFA Recognition Award. Ten new Fellows were inducted.

Georgia

During the March Madness Basketball season, a tornado ripped through Atlanta doing damage to the Georgia Dome where some of the games were scheduled. This even interrupted the Georgia basketball game to where they were rescheduled to hold it at Georgia State.

At the same time, the Hinman Dental Meeting was also going on in Atlanta. Our Trustee Joseph Harris was attending and staying on the 16th floor of the Omni Hotel. Fortunately Joe had gone out to dinner that evening when the tornado leveled his hotel room. The bathroom imploded; the glass from the balcony was blown out; the ceiling caved in; the wall behind the bed was destroyed; and the furniture was thrown every which way. Fellow Trustee Karyn Stockwell of Georgia, and another dentist from South Carolina helped Joe retrieve what was left of his belongings, and helped relocate him. "I was truly humbled by this experience and wanted to share it," he said. "Dr. Stockwell was truly my Guardian Angel and made sure that the rest of my stay was comfortable and uneventful."

Georgia went on to win.

Illinois

Section Chair Chris Baboulas co-sponsored a luncheon with the ICD and ACD during the Chicago MidWinter Meeting last February. In attendance were PFA President James Englander, Secretary Treasurer Richard and Judith Kozal, Editor James Brophy, past President William Kort, and Trustees Ernesto Acuna of Mexico, Joseph Harris of Michigan, and Daniel Castagna of California. At this event, President Englander presented the 2008 Distinguished Dentist award to Dr. Frank Weine, a long-time friend and Professor of Drs. Kozal and Brophy from Loyola Dental School.

Dr. Franklin S. Weine graduated from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry in 1957 and spent two years in military service. In 1962, he earned his master degree in endodontics from the University of Indiana. Dr. Weine then went on to teach at Northwestern University, Indiana University, and Osaka (Japan) Dental University. For 23 years, he was Professor and Director of Graduate Endodontics at Loyola University. He pioneered dental participation courses, which have become the mainstay of dental meetings. His text Endodontic Therapy has been published in seven foreign languages. He is a Fellow in the ICD and ACD. He has been honored with the Warren Wakai Memorial Award by the Japanese Endodontic Association and with the prestigious Louis Grossman Award. He maintains a part-time endodontic practice in downtown Chicago since 1966.

The 2008 Chicago MidWinter Meeting had a record attendance of 34,500.

Former Loyola School of Dentistry Dean Raffaele Suriano, a PFA Fellow, is twice being honored by the UIC College of Dentistry (Illinois) Dental Alumni Association. The first honor is having the Raffaele Suriano Award established in his name; the second is being presented the first such award. Dr. Suriano was an outstanding Dean of Loyola School of Dentistry, having graduated from Loyola in 1944. Also being honored are Drs. Clarence Towns, Jr., with their Distinguished Dental Alumnus Award, Larry Salzmann, with the E. Lloyd Du Brul Faculty Achievement Award, Michael Stabilen, with the William Towner Organized Dentistry Award, James Brynlarski, with the William Towner Organized Dentistry Award, Frederick Stroner, with the Illinois Alumni Association Loyalty Award, and Lawrence Kolar, with the President's Leadership Award. The Recognition Ceremony was held May 3, 2008, at the UIC Forum in Chicago. Illinois Dean Bruce Graham, a PFA Fellow, officiated. Many Loyola Dental School alumni have joined with the University of Illinois Dental Alumni Association as their new home.

Iowa

Chair C. Frederick Fuller held their joint PFA/ICD/ACD annual Spring Dinner May 4, 2008, at the Marriott Hotel in Des Moines during the Iowa Dental Association's Annual Session. Iowa's outstanding alumni event coordinator Penni Ryan handled the organization. Dr. LeRoy Strohman was honored with the Iowa Section's PFA Dentist of the Year Award. Dr. Strohman is past Iowa State President, served on the Iowa Board of Dental Examiners, and is a church deacon.

Dr. Karen Baker, Iowa School of Dentistry associate professor in Oral Pathology and Medicine and who serves in the Clinical Pharmacy Division of the College of Pharmacy, was presented the Allied Service Award.

Dr. Michael Rovner, a Des Moines orthodontist and member of the Iowa Board of Examiners, was inducted into Fellowship.

The Iowa Section again sponsored the freshman "White Coat Ceremony" last May 8 at the dental school.

Their Section is hoping to sponsor Iowa's first IMOM Mission of Mercy on October 3-4 in Waterloo, Iowa, at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center that will offer free oral health care for anyone who attends the event. Additional information can be found at the Iowa Mission of Mercy website.

Last year, the Iowa Section lost some fine Fellows in the passing of Dr. Rudy Imm, a former IDA President and a recipient of the PFA Iowa Dentist of the Year Award, Dr. David Blaha, Sr., a former IDA President, also passed away as well as did Dr. Frank Wingrove of Ames.

Maine

Dr. Rockwell Davis has succeeded Dr. Lisa Howard as Section Chair. Dr. Howard is President of the Maine Dental Association. PFA held a joint luncheon with ICD at the Somoset Resort last June.

Massachusetts

Chair Norman Becker presented the Section's Distinguished Service Award to Dr. Robert Boose. Along with the Award Dr. Becker presented Dr. Boose with a PFA golf cap, which will probably get more use than the plaque.

Also during their Section Meeting at the Yankee Dental Congress, Chairman Norman Becker, with the assistance of Trustee Richard Walsh, inducted three new members into Fellowship: Drs. Lisa Vouras, Medha Singh, and Howard Zolot.

New York

Fellow Stephen B. Gold of Setauket has been elected President of the New York State Dental Association (NYSDA) for 2008. Dr. Gold is a pediatric dentist, past President of the Suffolk County Dental Society, and previous Director of the Department of Dentistry at St. Charles Hospital. He is recipient of the St. Charles Hospital Theodore Roosevelt Award. He practices in Port Jefferson Station since 1976. He is a Fellow in PFA, ICD, and ACD.

Pennsylvania

Frank Di Noia has retired as Section Chair to be replaced by Dr. Elaine Stefanowicz of Philadelphia.

Rhode Island

Dr. Marty Nager was a honored with the Distinguished Dentist of the Year Award. Fellow Roger Turkel is President of the Rhode Island Dental Association. Past PFA Section Chair Christine Benoit was recently named to the Rhode Island Board of Dental Examiners.