President’s Report

  The end of the year approaches. The executive of the ADA has had a busy year and we see challenges ahead in terms of serving our membership and addressing issues that face the profession. Sometimes we wonder as an executive whether tor not he issues  we face at meetings are common to other parts of New Zealand or unique to Auckland-I think in some cases the later applies.

There are very few institutions in dentistry that survive a long time. I say this as this weekend the New Zealand Society of Periodontology holds its 60th jubilee celebration. One of the founding members, Newton Wickham will be attending-Wickie has contributed extensively to dentistry, he is also a fellow of the NZDA.

Many of you may not have heard much of what was referred to as the 'Special Societies' ( New Zealand Socisty of Periodontology and the NZ Society of Endodontics and the NZ Society for Sedation in Dentistry ). There are other newer organisations as well, for example-The New Zealand Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.They serve a purpose-certainly the Society of Sedation is active in providing training. They rely on an active membership. Do we need them? Yes- but each must fight for its place in the market attracting members to pay (yet another ) subscription. They also compete in the educational market which has changed dramatically in the last 20 years.

NZDA and its branch structure are enduring. Society with the advent of consumerism and the health care industry are both changing. Organisations like the NZDA and the ADA must change and adapt to meet the market providing services to the profession and also promoting the profession to the public. Yet we should never lose sight of our healthcare function and the motto of the NZDA " For the public weal".

The executive and I wish you all an enjoyable festive session.

Dr Nick Cole