Dr. Bruce Ward, DDS 鈥�76, was honoured at the Montreal Alumni Cocktail with the Faculty of Dentistry Outstanding Alumni Award. The award recognizes alumni of 9I制作厂免费鈥檚 Faculty of Dentistry who have demonstrated over a period of time exceptional contributions to the Faculty and commitment to the betterment of dentistry. Dr. Ward was nominated by many of his peers for his contribution to his community and to the dental profession. 鈥淭his is a great acknowledgement that I never thought I was qualified for,鈥� says Dr. Ward. 鈥淚t reinforces all of the great work that I鈥檝e done over the years and I鈥檓 just going to keep doing what I鈥檓 doing.鈥�
Since his studies at 9I制作厂免费, Dr. Ward has continued to see the benefits of helping vulnerable populations. 鈥淚 always wanted to do mission work but I realised that there was a need and the opportunity to help my own community in Vancouver, and sleep in my own bed at night,鈥� says Dr. Ward. He was instrumental in establishing the East Side Walk-In Dental Clinic, serving residents of one of Canada鈥檚 poorest neighbourhoods free of charge. From 2008 to 2015 he was Director of the clinic and still sits on its Advisory Committee. He is involved in Dentalfest, an event where University of British Columbia (UBC) students come to the clinic on Saturday mornings to treat patients, and appears as a dental expert on Global News to answer viewer questions on oral health.
Dr. Bruce Ward is involved with many dental organizations and has contributed significantly to the dental profession. Throughout his career, he has been involved with the College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia, the BC Dental Association, UBC鈥檚 Faculty of Dentistry, and the National Dental Examination Board. He is currently the spokesperson for the BC Dental Association (BCDA), involved in the UBC Faculty of Dentistry聽mentorship program, a task force to welcome all new dentists to British Columbia, and sits on the Discipline Council of the College of Dental Surgeons. In 2011 he was elected President of the BCDA. Still active in private practice two days a week, Dr. Ward believes he has had a successful career. 鈥淔or me, success is when after 40 or 50 years of practice you can retire with respect from your patients, peers and staff,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t is not your work that is going to keep you up at night; it is the interactions that you have with your staff and patients.鈥�
He is also the namesake of the Dr. Bruce Ward Award for Excellent Patient Care in the GPR Program,聽given to a resident who has demonstrated excellent clinical care for patients in the Faculty's GPR program.聽
The 2017 recipients are:
- Dr. Anthony Rossi (MUHC 鈥� Adult sites)
- Dr. Mathieu Laram茅e (Jewish General Hospital)
- Dr. Erica Abbey (Montreal Children鈥檚 Hospital)
The Outstanding Alumni Award and the Dr. Bruce Ward Award for Excellent Patient Care in the GPR Program are funded聽through a generous donation to the Faculty of Dentistry from the Courthill Foundation.
Congratulations to all!聽