Our Committees

Special Olympics - Chair: Ms. Carol Yakiwchuk

Mission   

The Special Olympics Committee will  mutually support CSDH and Special  Olympics Canada in their shared mission  of inclusive oral healthcare for Canadians  with disabilities and other special needs. 

Mandate   

  • Support the development and implementation of the Canadian initiative of the Special Smiles  virtual self-assessment sessions for Special Olympics athletes.    

  • Build a network of interested volunteers to serve as clinical directors, enablers, and oral  health champions for those with a disability or other special need.  

  • Identify additional ideas, strategies, and new resources to increase the knowledge, skill, and  abilities of oral health professionals to serve this population. 

Communication - Chair: Ms. Barbara Rand

Mission  

To develop and implement communication policies, plans and strategies to ensure CSDH  members and social media groups are kept informed of matters relating to the Vision, Mission,  Goals, and accomplishments of the Society and other matters related to the Society.  

Mandate  

  • Develop policies, procedures and strategies to effectively disseminate information to  Society members and social media followers. 

  • Create and/or share content to ensure members and others have confidence in the  leadership of the Society and are aware of the work being done and how it benefits  people with disabilities/special needs. 

  •  Identify a range of ideas, strategies, and resources to further engage members of the  Society.

Scientific and Education- Co-chairs: Dr. Sharat Pani and Dr. Lindsay James

Mission 

To produce and share educational resources that aim to increase oral health professionals’  awareness, knowledge and skill for providing oral healthcare for people with special needs. 

Mandate 

  • Produce original webinars that uphold a person-centred care approach and, where  possible, include techniques and concepts for oral health professionals to use to facilitate  oral health for people with special needs.  

  • Share content from like-minded organizations to further enhance the knowledge base of  CSDH members.  

  • Identify a range of ideas, strategies, and resources to further support the knowledge, skill,  and abilities of oral health professionals to best serve this population.

Advocacy - Chair: Ms. Joan Rush

Mission 

To ensure sound relationships with principal partners and other stakeholders, help forge new  relationships to meet future needs, and ensure that CSDH develops and implements effective  public relations strategies that support Board priorities. 

Mandate 

  • Develop a three-year advocacy strategy plan with measurable outcomes to raise the  profile of CSDH and involve the community in furthering the mission and goals of CSDH. 

  • Provide advice and support to the Board and Committee Chairs regarding advocacy issues. 

  • Develop CSDH public relations and communications programs and strategies for ensuring  sound relationships with community groups, clients, volunteers, funders, principal partners, or  other stakeholders, and make recommendations to the Board to ensure that key  relationships are in good order, and that new and beneficial relationships are fostered. 

Student - Chair: Professor Lara Timler

Mission 

To initiate, oversee, and provide guidance and support to Student Chapters in dental schools,  dental hygiene programs and dental assistant programs within Canada. The primary goal of  the Student Chapters is to advocate for curriculum that will prepare students, upon graduation,  to treat patients with disabilities and other special needs. 

Mandate 

  • Build a network of committed enthusiastic students to serve as Student Chapter  Representatives advocating for special care dentistry education in their school 

  • Support the development of and/or increase in course & clinic specific exposure to special  care dentistry  

  • Identify additional ideas, strategies, and new resources to increase student knowledge &  skill to serve this population

Membership - Chair: Dr. Steve Lipinski

Mission

To develop and implement strategies to attract and retain CSDH Members, with the goal of ensuring a diverse and inclusive membership and increasing the membership base.

Mandate

  • Develop policies, procedures and strategies for effectively attracting and retaining Society members.

  • Understand the underlying reasons why members join and leave the Society and use the insights gained to generate recommendations for benefits that will be of value to our members and entice them to renew their membership year after year.

  • Implement ideas through collaboration with other committees.

Bylaws and Policies - Chair: Dr. Paul Romanson

To connect with a committee chair, please send an email to csdhcanada@oultook.com