Biggest dental conference unfolds May 1
Participants to the forthcoming 108th annual convention of the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) – considered the biggest gathering of its kind in the country to be held May 1 to May 5 at the SMX Convention Center, Seashell Drive, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City - can look forward to an enriching and fruitful experience as convention organizers have been mobilizing their resources and coordinating with stakeholders to ensure the success of the event.
Dr. Carlos Buendia, PDA president and Dr. Mark Villalobos, PDA president-elect and general chair of the forthcoming convention disclosed that the full-packed convention proper will be highlighted by the following events: opening rites on May 1 with Dr. Rainnier Reyes, OIC, Board of Dentistry, Professional Regulation Commission as keynote speaker; scientific sessions hosted by the general and specialty affiliates of the PDA which will feature foreign and local lecturers (May 1-5); fellowship night featuring interactive production numbers using state-of-the-art stage design and technology, amusing event accents and elements, wacky and entertaining games and raffle (May 2); daily health screening program which will offer a wide array of medical services to all registered dentists (May 2-4); and President’s Night (May 5) with a guest speaker and inducting officer of the new set of officers of the association. Capping the event is the Awards Night on May 6.
In addition to the scientific sessions, the convention, which has for its theme “PDA: Challenging the Next Generation of Leaders,” has also provided two segments: one is a symposium for government and health center dentists, PDA officers and volunteers who engage in community dentistry, and for private practitioners who wish to practice non-invasive dentistry for their patients can be further enlightened with the topic “Minimum Intervention for Community Dentistry” which will highlight evidence-based strategies aimed at addressing the severe and chronic problem of caries among Filipinos; another is a symposium for dental students.
The Dental Trade Exhibit, a permanent fixture in PDA’s annual conventions, will showcase state-of-the-art dental equipment and latest dental materials, participated in by 357 local and international traders. The exhibit design is based on international standards so participants can comfortably move around the venue.
A pre-scientific convention seminar “Anesthesiology & Management of Medical Emergencies” will be presented tomorrow at the SMX Convention Center with eminent dentist anesthesiologist nd author Dr. Stanley Malamed as resource speaker.
A diplomate of the American Dental Board of Anesthesiology, Malamed is the author of three textbooks: Handbook of Local Anesthesia; Sedation: a Guide to Patient Management; and Emergency Medicine in Dentistry which are used in dental schools worldwide and have been translated into 15 languages.
Malamed has authored more than 140 scientific papers and 15 chapters in dental journals and textbooks and is a well regarded speaker on these subjects.
In 1973, Malamed joined the faculty of the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of University of Southern California, in Los Angeles, where today he is Professor of Anesthesia & Medicine. He was a recipient of the Heidebrink Award [1996] from the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology and the Horace Wells Award from the International Federation of Dental Anesthesia Societies, 1997 (IFDAS).
Registration rate to the preconvention seminar is P2,500. Payments may be made at the PDA Office in Makati or through the chapter presidents-elect or call the PDA Secretariat, tel. nos. 8996332 and 8978091.
The organizing committee has issued the following onsite registration rates: P3,000; PDA life member (with insurance), P1,400; government dentists, P3,000; dental hygienists and technologists, P2,000; members of academe, P2,000; accompanying person, P1,500; local students, P1,000; foreign students, P1,500; and foreign delegates, $300.
For other convention details, contact the PDA Secretariat at tel. nos. 8996332 and 8978091.