Australasia
Past PFA President William Winspear was inducted into ACD Fellowship during the ADA Annual Session in San Antonio last October.
L-R, "PFA President Charles Eller, ADA past President Kathy Roth with new ACD Fellow William Winspear
BELGIUM
This Section meets each year for an hour-and-a-half lecture followed by discussion and then a dinner. This year the discus sion was about how PFA Europe could implement better oral health in developing countries and specifically preventative and clinical dentistry. What financial support could be obtained from the European Union, country governments, and dental organizations? Looking to Africa, how can benevolent individuals be enticed to donate a week or two of their vacation to provide some skillful dental care in such selected countries?
Dr. Yves Parage and his wife presented their experiences in humanitarian activities over 12 years. He noted that it is more than just being there and supplying the ability to perform, but to know the formalities of each country just to get started. Getting there, to the inner most part of the continent with the necessary equipment was a logistic nightmare as well. Dr. Colpaert gave the summer presentation at the Maison du Cygne restaurant on the square in old Brussels. The results of the presentation and discussion were to establish a program that focused on training programs for local dental paramedics in Africa in oral health and in prevention. This program could coincide with Dr. Eller's humanitarian oral care in Africa as well as a European Mentorship Program. They had already contacted the general manager of the World Trade Fair for Dental Technology and Dentistry (IDS) in Cologne from 24-28 March 2009, to get them to agree to helping initiate one or both of the suggested projects.
MEXICO
Latin America Trustee Ernesto Acuna sponsored the 24th Latin American Academy of Gnathology meeting in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. The PFA Pacific Section held its first meeting in conjunction with the Conference. Attending were Trustees Ernesto Acuna and Joseph Harris. Dr. Raul Quezada organized the event. Three days of lectures were given by Dr. Anibal Alonso of Argentina on "Oral Rehabilitation in Primary Dentition" and "Establishing Vertical Dimension in a Worn Dentition."
Dr. Acuna then inducted new Fellows into the Academy with the assistance of Trustee Joe Harris.
Trustee Harris with new Fellows
New Fellows and their wives
POLAND
Chair Professor Eugeniusz Spiechowicz held their Annual Meeting last September in Poznan where they inducted two new Fellows.
At the Opening of the XVIII Central European Dental Exhibition last September in Poznan, more than 800 attendees witnessed the PFA Ceremony recognizing Mrs. Anna Deja-Berdula as an Honorary Member. She is the President and co-owner of the Exactus Company.
L-R, Treasurer Zdzislaw Malenczyk, Chairman Eugeniusz Spiechowicz, and Secretary Zbigniew Klimek
L-R, Section Secretary Zbigniew Klimek, Mrs. Ewa Mastalerz (co-owner of the Exactus Company), Mrs. Anna Deja-Berdula (President of the Exactus Company), Section Chair Eugeniusz Spiechowicz, and Mr. Marek
URUGUAY
Outstanding Section Chair Dr. Walter Lieber Belli passed away last November 13th. Dr. Lieber was the Founder of the Uruguay PFA Section as well as the ICD and ADI Sections. His son Dr. Jorge Lieber is Dean of the Universidad Catolica del Uruguay. Dr. Walter Lieber was an outstanding teacher in life that set an example for all in South America.
Dr. Lieber attended the Latin American Academic Meeting of the Region 2 Fellows last January in Sao Paolo where he had two new Fellows inducted into membership. After returning to Montevideo, Section Chair Walter Lieber revitalized his Section by re-inducting 15 inactive Fellows. In July, he held an Induction Ceremony in which he initiated 30 new Fellows, bringing his small country's total to 47 members. President James Englander and Trustee Ernesto Acuna attended.
Dr. Lieber had been Dean of Catholic University of Uruguay and was an enthusiastic supporter of organized dentistry. As Trustee Acuna stated, "Uruguay has lost a great dental professional and we all have lost a wonderful friend."
UNITED STATES
California
Acting USC Dean Sigmund Abelson
Dr. Sigmund Abelson, an alumnus from the University of the Pacific, Arthur Dugoni School of Dentistry, has been appointed Acting Dean for the University of Southern California School of Dentistry and will hold the position until USC completes a national search for a new Dean. Dr. Abelson had been serving as USC Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs. Dr. Abelson was a 1966 graduate of the Dugoni School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific, and member of the Pacific Dental Education Foundation Board. In 2002, the Dugoni School Alumni Association presented their Medallion of Distinction to Dr. Abelson.
Dr. Abelson has also served as the California Dental Association Speaker of the House. He is a PFA Fellow as well as in ICD and ACD.
Florida
Chair Gary Herbeck reports inducting new Fellows into the Academy at their last PFA Meeting. They were Drs. Steve Chapman, Raj Rawal, J. Michael Heider, Bertram Hughes, Stephen Hopwood, Jolene Paramore, Peter Lemieux, Tina Thomas, Larry Shapiro, Raymond Kenzik, Jeffrey Ottley, Robert Miller, Alan Bresalier, and Bruce Waterman.
Chair Gary Herbeck presented their Dentist of the Year Award to Dr. Terry Buckenheimer.
New Florida Fellows
Chair Herbeck (left) presents Award to Dr. Terry Buckenheimer
Georgia
Chair John Harrington reports inducting 15 new members into Fellowship this year at their 6th Annual Leadership Conference and Convocation last February at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge in Greensboro. PFA past President James Englander and Trustee Karyn Stockwell were in attendance. Their 7th Leadership Conference will be held on February 6th through the 8th.
Illinois
Dr. Thomas Emmering, past ICD-USA Section President, received the Outstanding Community Service Award at the United Cerebral Palsy National Awards for Excellence Ceremony at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, AR, last April. Dr. Emmering is well known in the Chicago area for his charitable activities and donating hundreds of hours of dental services at UCP Centers. He serves on the Board of the United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago.
Michigan
Trustee Joe Harris of Michigan reported that the Section held their Meeting last November. This was the first meeting for their new Chairman Dr. Edward Hirsch.
New York
Fellow G. Kirk Gleason of Clifton Park was selected to receive the New York State Dental Association's Distinguished Service Award last November in Albany. He has served as NYSDA Secretary/Treasurer, a former member of the NYSDA Executive Committee, and of the NYSDA Council on Publications. He is currently the Treasurer of the New York State Dental Foundation.
Fellow Alfonso J. Perna of Binghamton was elected President of the New York State Dental Association. A general dentist, Dr. Perna is currently the Executive Director of the Sixth District Dental Society. He is former ACD Chair for the Western New York Section. He is also an ICD Fellow.
South Carolina
Chair Scott Cayouette presented incoming Chair for South Carolina Dr. Staci Gaffos. Their Dentist of the Year Award was presented to Dr. W. Lynn Campbell.
Drs. Cayouette and Stockwell inducted new Fellows into the Academy: Drs. Strother Murdoch and B. Thomas Kays.
L-R, Incoming Section Chair Staci Gaffos, PFA Trustee Karyn Stockwell, new Fellows Strother Murdoch and Thomas Kays with Section Chair Scott Cayouette and incoming Chair-elect Monica Cayouette
L-R, Trustee Karyn Stockwell, Dentist of the Year, W. Lynn Campbell with Chair Scott Cayouette