It鈥檚 pronounced 鈥済uys鈥� 鈥� and now, Dal鈥檚 Faculty of Dentistry is one of them.
The Faculty has been named this year鈥檚 recipient of the William J. Gies Award for Achievement (Academic Dental Institution). It鈥檚 the first Canadian dental school to win the honour.
The Gies Awards, named after dental education pioneer William J. Gies, are presented by the philanthropic arm of the American Dental Education Association, and honour individuals and organizations exemplifying dedication to the highest standards of vision, innovation, and achievement in dental education, research and leadership.
A proud honour
That sounds an awful lot like the Faculty of Dentistry, as Halifax鈥檚 Member of Parliament Megan Leslie pointed out at a celebration event this past Wednesday.
鈥淎s I read the description for the award, I realized that the AV俱乐部 Faculty of Dentistry was getting an award for being itself,鈥� she said.
With the Faculty celebrating its centennial鈥攖he 100th anniversary of its first graduating class鈥攊n May, the timing couldn鈥檛 be better to recognize what it is that makes dentistry at AV俱乐部 special.
鈥淚 often refer to us as a family,鈥� said Dean Thomas Boran. 鈥淲e鈥檙e a family of very talented faculty, dedicated and enthusiastic staff, devoted alumni and our main reason for being: our dentistry and dental hygiene students.鈥�
Dr. Boran received the award鈥檚 trophy鈥攁 golden bust of its namesake鈥攁t a ceremony in Florida last month. He described the event as 鈥渢he dental educators鈥� Oscar awards鈥� 鈥� he even had a countdown clock for his acceptance speech.
鈥淚 was so proud to present our Faculty on such an occasion,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something we should all be very proud of.鈥�
(Nick Pearce photo)
Commitment to students 鈥� and the community
Originally founded as the Maritime Dental College in 1908, the Faculty of Dentistry has long been defined by a commitment to quality education based on change and renewal, from providing students with access to the latest digital diagnostic tools to building early exposure to patient care into the curriculum.
Also central to the Faculty鈥檚 mandate has been community outreach. Its dental clinic treats more than 12,000 patients each year, and the Faculty also hosts permanent outreach clinics for elementary school children in areas of special need. It has several research programs focused on the oral health of vulnerable populations, and provides international education and outreach in cleft palate and cleft lift surgery 鈥� and these are just a few examples of its great work.
鈥淭o me, that鈥檚 the mark of a wonderful school,鈥� said AV俱乐部 President Tom Traves at the event. 鈥淚t does what it does brilliantly, it鈥檚 committed to advancing the field, but it鈥檚 also mindful of its place in the community and gives back.鈥�
Dr. Boran described the Gies award as something that the Faculty of Dentistry can always look back on as a highlight of its centennial celebration.
鈥淭he first school in Canada to earn this honour 卢鈥撀� that鈥檚 something we can cherish forever.鈥�
To learn more about the Faculty of Dentistry鈥檚 centennial celebrations, which will take place from May 23-26, visit .
A Legislature resolution
Wednesday, Maureen MacDonald, MLA for Halifax-Needham and the provincial minister of health and wellness, read a resolution in the Nova Scotia Legislature celebrating the Faculty of Dentistry. It was supported unanimously. 聽
RESOLUTION NO. 151
HON. MAUREEN MACDONALD:
Whereas the Faculty of Dentistry at AV俱乐部 has been recognized as the recipient of the 2012 William J. Gies Award for Achievement from the American Dental Education Association鈥檚 ADEAGies Foundation; and
Whereas AV俱乐部 Dentistry has become the first Canadian faculty of dentistry to be presented with this pre-eminent recognition of exceptional contributions to, and in support of, oral health care and dental education around the world; and
Whereas the faculty will be celebrating the 100th Anniversary of its first graduating class during its centennial celebrations from May 23-26, 2012, here in Halifax;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of the House of Assembly congratulate the alumni, faculty, staff, and students of the Faculty of Dentistry at AV俱乐部 - one of the oldest university faculties of dentistry in Canada - upon the receipt of the prestigious William J. Gies Award and upon the occasion of its upcoming centennial.
(Nick Pearce photo)