Costa Rica

Dr. Ronald de la Cruz Rojas, President of the Costa Rica Chapter of the PFA announced the presentation of the Foundation Scholarship Award for 2004 to dental student Jeffrey Bastos Montero by the Universidad de Costa Rica School of Dentistry Dean Carlos Filloy E. and PFA President of Costa Rica Ronald de la Cruz.


L-R, Dr. Ronald de la Cruz, Dean Carlos Filloy, dental student recipient Jeffrey Bastos Montero

Canada

Foundation dental school scholarships were presented to Warrick Yu at the University of British Columbia; Lon Riemer at the University of Alberta; Mark Venditti at the University of Saskatchewan; D’Arcy Pierce of the University of Manitoba; Aly Adatia at the University of Western Ontario; Andrew Lee of the University of Toronto; Chris Allington of McGill University; Claude Raymond of the University de Laval; Marie-Laure Prins of the University de Montreal; and Wade Abbott of Dalhousie University.

Switzerland

Chair Rolland Söllner and Professor J. Meyer, Vice Director for the Center for Dentistry, presented the Foundation Scholarship Award to dental school junior Mrs. Photini Mengisopoulos of the University of Basel Dental School for her leadership qualities at the university, the dental school, and in community affairs, along with her intelligence, imagination, initiative, and integrity. This was the first Foundation scholarship given in Switzerland, and the ceremony included the presentation of a dozen roses. The Schweiz Monatsschr Zahnmed had an entire page about the event.

United States

Ohio

Chairman Al Vegas and Central Region Chairman Walter Buchsieb presented the PFA Scholarships to Ohio State University School of Dentistry recipients Captain Tom Parsons and Philip Bromeli.

L-R, Captain Tom Parsons, Section Region Chair Walter Buchsieb, and recipient Philip Bromeli

Oregon

Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry Associate Dean for Student Affairs Mark Mitchell noted that their Dean Jack Clinton presented the Foundation Scholarship Award to dental student Eric Anderson. Both the recipient and the school expressed their thanks for our generosity.

L-R, Dean Jack Clinton presents scholarship award to recipient Eric Anderson

Australasia

Trustee Jonathan Rogers reports that the Australian Dental Association will be holding their Congress in Adelaide, South Australia from 3-7 March 2005. Their PFA event will be held on 5 March 2005.

Belgium/Luxembourg

Chair Jose Dahan has planned hosting a “Fraternity Supper” to culminate a membership drive in Belgium, particularly the Flemish areas, and in Luxembourg. In coordination with the Central Office, he has secured promotional brochures to send to all the Section members to promote bringing a guest with them to their dinner to participate in their scientific and professional discussions.

They have also established their own Web site at http://fauchard.org/news/Region01/Belgium.htm. This site will report on the activities of their four committees: Aesthetic Dentistry, co-chaired by Drs. Nicole Schuhmann and Eddy Van Assche; Family Dentistry, chaired by Drs. Christiaan Colpaert, Anne Carpentier, and F. Gillet; Functional Dentistry, chaired by Dr. Alain Arys; and Dental Surgery, chaired by Dr. Jean-Paul Lambert.

Four new members were inducted into Fellowship at the end of 2004.

Bulgaria

Chair Professor Valentin Moutaftchiev has tendered his resignation due to other pressing commitments, but he has suggested Dr.Laura Andreeva, a leading specialist in the country, for his replacement.

Finland

It is with deep regret that we learn of the passing of Fellow Inkeri Rytomaa.

Germany

Chair Frank Braun has 12 potential new members awaiting induction. While looking for a Chair for Austria, he will also induct three new members from there. In traveling to China to present the Elmer Best Award to Professor Zhang Zhenkang, he hopes to establish a PFA Section there with two possible Chinese members.

Greece

Chair Thana Paschos had been serving on the Olympics Committee, but now has the time to contact Dean Constantin Oulis of the dental school there to help promote PFA within the university. Dr. Maria Grakedaki of Thessalaniki has been nominated for Vice Chair to assist in the development of their Section.

Japan

Outgoing Chair Mamoru Sakuda holding his Honor Award from the International PFA for his service as Section Chair

International Trustee Mamoru Sakuda that the Japan Section held its Board Meeting last 22 January.

At their 35th Annual Luncheon Meeting, Dr. Yoshio Kaneda was honored with the Certificate of Merit plaque presented by PFA International Trustee Mamoru Sakuda. Dr. Kaneda is past Chair of the Japan Section and an Honorary Member of the Section.

Trustee Mamoru Sakuda presents the Certificate of Merit Award to Dr. Yoshio Kaneda (photo courtesy of Dr. Masanori Kawaguchi, Japan section Auditor)

Section Chair Tsuneaki Kuwahata inducted three new members into Fellowship: Drs. Teruko Takano-Yamamoto, Yuichi Takeuchi, and Shiro Yamada.

Dr. Manabu Iidaka served as Chair of the LOC for this annual Meeting, and Dr. Masanori Kawaguchi is Auditor for the Japan Section. Both contributed with their excellent photographs for our publication. Also in attendance, as mentioned, Past PFA President Min Horiuchi, Trustee Mamoru Sakuda, Section Chair Tsuneaki Kuwahata, the Michinosuke Nakayama Memorial Award Chair Hirokazu Hashimoto, Auditor Masanori Kawaguchi, recipient of the 2002 Foundation grant for Dental Treatment Services for Leprous Patients, and Chair of the Chubu Component of the Japan Section Minoru Yamamoto, along with Tokyo Dental College President Yuzuru Kaneko, Award recipient Yoshio Kaneda, and the new Fellows.

Chair Tsuneaki Kuwahata inducting new Fellows (photo courtesy of Dr. Manabu Iidaka)

Macedonia

Chair Branislav Dastevski inducted two new Fellows last year—Professor Dr. Mile Carcev, the Representative of the Dental Chamber for the Republic of Macedonia, and Professor Dr. Ljuben Guguvcevski, the General Manager of the Dental Clinical Center in Skopje—during a luncheon by Lake Ohrid. Two more members are being nominated to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Dental Faculty in Skopje.

Mexico

Chairman Ernesto Acuna E. inducted seven new Fellows into membership: Drs. Marcos Bloch, Gabriela Carrasco, Pedro Ortiz, Jaime Edelson, Roberto Justus, Yolanda Villarreal, and Jorge Zemeno. Dr. Jose Solon discussed the future of the Mentorship Program at their three dental schools. Dr. Alfredo Navarro, a recent graduate of the Universidad Tecnologica de Mexico Dental School, discussed his experience participating in the mentorship program. The over 70 guests were then addressed by architect Carlos Flores Marini with an audiovisual presentation on “Mexico’s Monumental Patrimony.”

Vision sin Fronteras reported that Montemorelos University, in celebration of their 62nd Anniversary hosted by the Faculty of Health Sciences, honored the life work in the development of dental services at the university by Dr. Lloyd Baum, a fantastic educator, by naming their dental school after him.

Netherlands

Secretary J. A. van Bentum reported holding their Autumn Meeting in Roermond with a discussion by Ir.H. de Goey of the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sports concerning certification, quality practice, and quality control. The conclusion was that practitioners often fear the government bureaucracy, which believes that with more restrictions they can force a higher quality level of dentistry.

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The new Chair for their Section, Dr. E.A.J.H. Dony-Nabbe was installed. Outgoing Chair A.M. Crielaers gave his farewell.

The Spring Meeting was held in Utrecht to discuss the development and education of the mouth-care practitioner. The Ministry of Health developed the concept of independent hygienists and extended duties for assistants without consulting the Dutch Dental Society. A board of speakers on both sides of the issue was heard coming to the conclusion that if government does not start with consultation of the profession, do not expect the profession to support such concepts.

Their third lustrum last September was celebrated in Barcelona, Spain, where discussion was about European regulations on the education of dentists.

Poland

Chair Professor Eugeniusz Spiechowicz reported holding three meetings and one General Meeting last September whose topic was “The Polish Dentist in the European Union: Our rights and duties.” Three new candidates were proposed for membership. Their Council has decided to develop the cooperation between the PFA and the Polish Dental Association and the Polish Chamber of Physicians and Dentists to develop plans for securing scholarships for outstanding dental students.

Serbia

Chair Professor Dragoslav Djukanovic is planning an initiation of new members in May 2005, as the economic conditions there are improving.

Switzerland

Chair Roland A. Söllner noted that PFA is getting recognized as an elite and philanthropic dental organization. Two candidates have been submitted for Fellowship.