From the Desk of Dr. Quiñonez
June 2023
I have now been at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry for just over one year, and I couldn’t be luckier to lead Schulich Dentistry.
We have accomplished so much in these last 13 months.
- Schulich Dentistry has defined a new mission and vision: To be of service and to be the best.
- We have made strong inroads at governance, curriculum, and operational renewal. For instance, we have achieved greater integration with Schulich Medicine and Western University proper.
- We have a new leadership structure.
- We will soon table proposed revisions to our Constitution and school committees.
- We have the beginnings of a curriculum map to guide our curriculum change and accreditation preparations.
- We have made major upgrades to our clinics to accommodate regulatory guidelines and improve patient accessibility.
- We have made and will continue to make new and important faculty and staff hires to fill gaps and to take us to the next level.
- Canada’s prime minister and other federal, provincial, and municipal leaders, Western’s president and provost, presidents of dental associations, the president and registrar of our dental regulatory authority, and other important university and industry dignitaries have visited us to see how we will define the future of dental education and oral health care.
- Our alumni are returning to help us train the next generation of dental clinicians.
- Our research and ideas are being used to guide policy making and patient care in Canada and around the world.
- We are serving and providing much needed care to some of London and region’s most vulnerable populations inside and outside of our walls.
Like I said, I couldn’t feel luckier, but we have much more to do. To truly be of service and to truly be the best, we must keep this level of effort going for years, and I know we can. Why? Because I have observed that the most special thing about Schulich Dentistry is its people. Our staff, alumni, faculty, undergraduate, and graduate students, all are committed to moving us in the right direction. This is the heart of Schulich Dentistry. It beats strong, and it clearly signals to me that our future is bright.
Onward and upward, see you in September!
- Carlos
Carlos Quiñonez, DMD, MSc, PhD, FRCD(C)
Vice Dean and Director of Dentistry
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Western University
