Dr. Maneesh Jain is taking on the role of ODA President during a time when the profession is facing some of the biggest challenges it has ever faced.
“We are facing numerous challenges right now, from staff shortages to feasible implementation of the infection prevention and control (IPAC) guidelines, the parameters of the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), regulatory pressures from our colleges, and soaring overhead costs,” Jain said in his in-depth interview with the Ontario Dentist journal. “Let’s take these challenges and turn them into opportunities.”
Dr. Jain likes to focus on the positive – collaboration, unity, community and giving back.
“There’s a lot of power in collaboration, it takes an entire team to support the interests of our membership and their patients.”
For example, to address the concerns he mentioned, he wants to build strategic partnerships with a variety of organizations to continue bringing dentistry to the forefront of being a valued partner in the overall health care team.
“There’s a lot of power in collaboration, it takes an entire team to support the interests of our membership and their patients.”
Growing up, Dr. Jain’s parents and grandparents instilled in him the value of hard work and serving one’s community. Ultimately, this is what led him to choose a career in dentistry. He realized that whatever career he ultimately chose would involve helping people. He decided on dentistry after speaking with his dentist and orthodontist, who showed him the opportunities that dentistry offered.
“I was excited to work with my hands, diagnose, devise a treatment plan and perform a variety of procedures all while being able to build long-term relationships with patients.”
“Experiencing different cultures and learning about life beyond your own microcosm is humbling and enriching.”
Now, as ODA president and a practice owner himself, Dr. Jain finds himself in the position of offering advice like this to new dentists.
“First, get involved in your local community – patients love seeing you outside the practice. Interacting and working with members of the community is rewarding and will often help shape the way you build your practice. Second, join your component society. Component societies enable you to share your experiences and stresses and help you recognize you’re not alone.”
He is excited to continue the work of Dr. Brock Nicolucci, our immediate past-president, in engaging new dentists and helping members realize the value of being active in a component society and the ODA.
In his downtime, Dr. Jain likes to spend time travelling with his wife and children.
“Experiencing different cultures and learning about life beyond your own microcosm is humbling and enriching.”
We are excited to see what Dr. Jain will accomplish during his tenure as President this year.
Dr. Jain became the 151st ODA president on June 1, 2024. Members can read the full interview with him in the June issue of Ontario Dentist Journal.