4 DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition SEP-OCT 2020 INTERVIEW ICD strives to advance the art and science of dentistry in underdeveloped countries -Prof Dr Arshad Malik By DTP Staffer A fter completing BDS from de' Montmorency College of Dentistry, Lahore in 1979, Prof Dr Arshad Malik served as Principal of Dental Section and Head of Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad and Sahara Medical College, Narowal. Dr Arshad has an experience of more than 26 years of teaching. He has been examiner of many dental colleges in Pakistan including College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan, University of Health Sciences Lahore, Punjab University, Ghandhara University, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. He has also been elected as President emeritus of Central council, Pakistan Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and President of Pakistan Dental Association, Chakwal in 2018. Currently, Prof Dr Arshad is the Principal and Dean of HBS Dental College, Islamabad. He is also Regent and Fellow of International College of Dentists (ICD) Section XV (Region 24) Afghanistan, Pakistan. He is a regular presenter in many international conferences with special reference to ICD as invited speaker. Recently Dental Tribune Pakistan sat down to talk about his journey as a Regent and Fellow of ICD for our readers. Excerpts from his interview are as under: Dental Tribune Pakistan: As a Regent and Fellow of International College of Dentists (ICD), can you please explain more about it? DA: International College of Dentists is an international organisation. It was established in 1926 when two people, one from Japan and one from the U.S., collaborated as a pioneer of International College of Dentists. The central theme was to spread humanitarian work among dental surgeons residing around the world. Then, over time, more people started joining the organisation. To be a fellow of the International College of Dentists is a great honour. The fellowship is awarded not through demand or by request Now more than 30 countries have been part of International College of Dentists since its establishment. International College of Dentists is a well-known organisation throughout the world and popularly known for their values, educational ethics, promotion, attitude towards dentistry. Not only in the domain of dentistry, but International College of Dentists is also famous for disaster management participation, for humanitarian work, especially in Asia and other underdeveloped countries. International College of Dentists is working for the sparse population, and especially regarding dental health. They are giving free seminars to spread awareness about dental hygiene, providing free medicines, organising free dental camps and assisting dental surgeons who don't have financial or logistical support. International College of Dentists reaches out to such people throughout the world in times of need. Dental Surgeons who are actively participating at times of disaster, in management of the underprivileged population, the dental community, promotion of dentistry, research, the spread of dental awareness in schools as well as in hospitals, are always considered by ICD DTP: Are all potential members in ICD nominated by fellows and what are the essential requirement to be nominated? Are accomplishments in dentistry, humanitarian work, or both required? DA: To be a fellow of the International College of Dentists is a great honour. The fellowship is awarded not through demand or by request. It is allocated after the thorough assessment of the organisation. A committee is being trained to assess the quality and standard of education acquired, humanitarian work, as well as the contribution of the dentist. Scholars of dentistry who are devoting their work, time for the promotion of dentistry, are always eligible. International College of Dentists reaches out to such people throughout the world in times of need Candidates are categorised on three criteria, academics, humanitarian work for the general public and dental community. Dental Surgeons who are actively participating at times of disaster, in management of the underprivileged population, the dental community, promotion of dentistry, research, the spread of dental awareness in schools as well as in hospitals, are always considered by ICD. If a person fulfils approximately 90 per cent of criteria set by ICD, they will be eligible for the Fellowship of International College of Dentists. After that, they are assessed by the committees of country and country region. After that, they are sent to the section committee. Then it is sent to the headquarters of ICD, which is in Michigan, the U.S. for final approval by the International College of Dentists. DTP: What are the changes, progress and developments in ICD Pakistan that you are the happiest about today? DA: ICD was established in Pakistan around 1965, and from that period onwards so many regents and fellows have been registered in Pakistan. But it was Prof. Dr M A Soofi who as a regent brought significant development in ICD-Pakistan. There is a constant lack of development of dental technology. There are zero manufacturers of dental materials in our country, and hence it has to be imported I was awarded as a regent of the International College of Dentists in 2012, and after that, ICD- Pakistan has progressed rapidly. Every year more than 50 fellows are being registered as a part of ICD from Pakistan. We were participating in Section 20 in the past, then in Section 15. Now, in every international conference and seminar, ICD-Pakistan is participating. Referred to as region 24, Pakistan is part and parcel of every Section 15 event, and that is in itself an achievement. DTP: Why do you think Pakistani dental researchers are not at par on the global level? DA: There are many factors behind it which should be established first in our country. Our research centres are not so equipped; research criteria are not comprehensive and educational tendency is not as potent as Western ones. That is why we are Continued on Page 11