Dental News - Haiti receives further support at Midwinter Meeting

Javier M. de Pison, DT Latin America

Sat. 27 February 2010

save

CHICAGO, USA: The president of the Haiti Dental Society, Dr Samuel Prophete, has asked US dental associations and professionals for support to rebuild the public health system of his country and for help to colleagues whose offices have been destroyed. Dr Prophete, who was invited by the Chicago Dental Society to join this year’s Midwinter meeting, gave a speech during the opening session of the Chicago Midwinter Meeting as part of an initiative of Dental Tribune Latin America to help colleagues in Haiti following the 12 January earthquake.

"The people of Haiti will forever be grateful to the international dental community by the aid received in shelters and makeshift refugee centres in the form of hygiene kits with brushes, toothpaste and soap, and for the volunteer dentists who have gone to help, along with their Haitian colleagues, to bring assistance to the needy," said Dr Prophete. He added that this tragedy will also be an opportunity to honour its victims by assisting in the titanic task of rebuilding Haiti.

Officers of the American Dental Association (ADA) also held a meeting requested by Dental Tribune Latin America to seek solutions to the crisis in Haiti, specifically to help colleagues that have lost family members, offices and means of work. At the ADA headquarters in Chicago, Dr Ronald Tankersley, ADA president, Dr Raymond Gist, president-elect, executive director Kathleen O'Loughlin and the director of the Division of Global Affairs welcomed an international delegation which included Dr Prophete, Dr Adolfo Rodriguez, president of the Latin American Dental Federation (FOLA), Dr Adán Yáñez, president of the Ibero-Latin American Dental Federation (FDILA), Torsten Oemus, president of Dental Tribune International, and Javier de Pison, editor of Dental Tribune Latin America.

embedImagecenter("Imagecenter20",20);

The group discussed different ways to help Haiti, such as the Oral Health Coalition for Haiti and other initiatives like conferences in various congresses in Latin America and the United States, a programme called Adopt a Dentist, and collaboration with companies for the donation of materials, instruments and dental units.

Dr Adán Yáñez offered to devote one day of the FDILA congress, held on 12-16 May 2010 in Puerto Vallarta in Mecixo, to Haiti. On this day, which will be entitled A Smile for Haiti, prominent Latin American speakers will donate their lecture fees. Among the confirmed speakers are doctors Miguel Asenjo (Dominican Republic), Sergio Kohen (Argentina) and Enrique Jadad (Colombia). In addition, the FDILA will host a gala dinner to raise funds and is offering discounts to commercial exhibitors who sponsor the conferences or donate materials to Haiti.

As a way to help, the A Smile for Haiti conference day will be broadcasted live through the Dental Tribune Study Club (DTSC), an online educational platform. This initiative will enable dentists in Latin Americans, who wish to help, to sign in and view the presentations by renowned specialists. The nominal fee will be donated to a fund for Haiti. A week prior to the Mexico event, the DTSC will present a series of English-language speakers with the same purpose.

To post a reply please login or register

New ways to connect at Midwinter Meeting

CHICAGO, Ill., USA: The exhibit hall at the Chicago Dental Society’s Midwinter Meeting has long been a popular draw at the 150-plus-year-old meeting. ...

Straumann goes fully digital at Midwinter Meeting

CHICAGO, USA/LEIPZIG, Germany: Straumann is advancing its position in the dental market as a provider of comprehensive digital implant and restorative ...

Corporate Learning Theater new at 2020 Chicago Midwinter Meeting

New to the Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting this year, the Corporate Learning Theater in the exhibit hall attracted attendees to sessions covering a...

Planmeca launches smaller intraoral scanner tips at Midwinter Meeting

CHICAGO, Ill., USA: Among the products making their debut at the 2015 Midwinter Meeting exhibit hall were new, smaller scanner tips for the Planmeca ...

Attendees at Midwinter Meeting stay on the cutting edge

CHICAGO, IL, USA: The Chicago Dental Society’s Midwinter Meeting, held each year in late February at McCormick Place West, is known for helping dental...

CDS Midwinter Meeting 2025 gets underway

CHICAGO, US: The 160th Chicago Dental Society (CDS) Midwinter Meeting is in full swing at the McCormick Place West Building in Chicago, welcoming dental ...

Get to the ‘Heart of Dentistry’ at 2021 Midwinter Meeting

CHICAGO, Ill., USA: It’s almost time for the Chicago Dental Society’s 156th Midwinter Meeting. In just over a week, you will be able to access a wide ...

OCO Biomedical to showcase its implant innovations at Midwinter Meeting

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., USA: OCO Biomedical, a company recognized for its dental technology, training and instrumentation, will showcase its state-of-the-art ...

Table clinics at Midwinter Meeting in Chicago inform and educate

They are not led by the most well-known speakers on the dental education circuit, but table clinics — those concise, 15- to 20-minute presentations ...