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Committees

BCCOHP’s committees are established by the Board and filled by the Nomination and Appointment Committee. Currently at BCCOHP, we have 10 committees organized into three types: regulatory, professional standards and Board committees.*   

Committee membership includes public members and oral health professionals. Our committees are comprised of individuals who reflect the importance of diversity, gender equality, professional experience, knowledge and skill. 

*Note that this committee structure will change when government repeals the Health Professions Act (HPA) and replaces it with the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA).   

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Regulatory Committees

Role

Complaint matters that cannot be resolved at the Inquiry Committee stage result in a referral to the Discipline Committee for disciplinary action including a notice of a public hearing under the Health Professions Act.

View the Discipline Committee’s terms of reference (PDF) here >>

Members

  • Dr. Suzanne Carlisle, Dentist (Chair)
  • Carol Williams (Vice-Chair)
  • Jennifer Aarestad, Dental Hygienist
  • Maria Dulce C. Cuenca, Public
  • Samantha Flint, CDA
  • Dr. Anita Gadzinska-Myers, Dentist
  • Isabelle Gauthier, Denturist
  • Dr. David Y. Khang, Dentist
  • Dr. Alexander Lieblich, Dentist
  • Dr. Karen Lin, Dentist
  • Dr. Brendan Matthews (DVM), Public
  • Christopher McIntosh, Public
  • Emerald Murphy, Public
  • Mandana Namazi, Public
  • Dr. Divya Swarup, Dentist
  • Dr. Anshika Taneja, Dentist
  • Amanda Wagman, Dental Hygienist
  • Stefanie Wong, Public

Role

The Inquiry Committee oversees investigations and the consent resolution of complaints in accordance with the Health Professions Act. 

View the Inquiry Committee’s terms of reference (PDF) here >>

Members

  • Dr. Jonathan Adams, Dentist (Chair)
  • Dr. Robert Elliott, Dentist (Vice-Chair)
  • Dr. Nariman Amiri, Dentist
  • Denise Beerwald, Hygienist
  • Dr. Anthony Bellusci, Dentist
  • Dr. Preet Bhatti, Dentist
  • Kathleen Bradley, Public
  • Sabrina Desrochers, CDA
  • Charanpreet (Charn) Dhami, Dental Hygienist
  • Howard Kushner, Public
  • Carson Law, Denturist
  • Dr. Georgina Georgeson, Dentist
  • Dr. Ahmed Hieawy, Dentist
  • Michael MacDougall, Public
  • Seth McDonough, Public
  • Thelma O’Grady, Public
  • Dr. Leah Phillips (PhD), Public
  • Monica Racz, CDA
  • Carol Roberts, Public
  • Dr. Najwan Stephan-Tozy, Dentist
  • Dr. Jonathan Suzuki, Dentist
  • John Taylor-Wilson, Public
  • Marg Vandenberg, Public
  • Skylar Wiersma-Deardoff, Dental Hygienist
  • Alfred Woo, Public
  • Dr. Linda Xing, Dentist

Role

The Quality Assurance Committee is responsible for developing, administering and maintaining the program that promotes continuing competence for oral health professionals.

View the Quality Assurance Committee’s terms of reference (PDF) here >>

Members

  • Brett Collins, Public (Chair)
  • Angus Barrie, Dental Technician
  • Dr. Nathalie Butler, Dentist
  • Ruth Lunn, Dental Hygienist
  • Daniela Michel, Dental Hygienist
  • Pardis Mosanen-Mozaffari, CDA
  • Dr. Adam Pite, Dentist
  • Moe Sarwari, Denturist
  • Tamera Servizi, Dental Hygienist
  • Dr. Grant Sklar (PharmD), Public
  • Ranjit Sundur, Public
  • Dr. David Vogt (PhD), Public
  • Mandie Williams, CDA
  • Naiying Xue, Public

Role

The Registration Committee is responsible for granting registration and certification. The committee reviews and monitors the policies, procedures and provisions for registration and certification in the best interest of the public, and decides whether to approve or deny non-routine applications for initial registration, annual renewal and reinstatement.

View the Registration Committee’s terms of reference (PDF) here >>

Members

  • Sofia Crosby-Coulson, CDA (Chair)
  • Dr. Stephanie Bortolussi, Dentist
  • Nimi Braich, Public
  • Susan Graham, Public
  • Dr. Zul Kanji (EdD), Dental Hygienist
  • Stacey MacAulay, Denturist
  • Jade Macdonald, Dental Hygienist
  • Roberta Mowatt, CDA
  • Nehal Sawvad, Public
  • Dr. Rojin Schmitt, Dentist
  • Dr. Farah Shroff (PhD), Public
  • Sherry Priebe, Dental Hygienist
  • Charlene Thiessen, CDA
  • Dr. Janice Wong (DVM), Public

Role

The Sedation and General Anesthesia Committee assesses the compliance of registrants and dental facilities with the sedation and general anesthesia standards.

View the Sedation and General Anesthesia Committee’s terms of reference (PDF) here >>

Members

  • Dr. Kerim Ozcan, Dentist (Oral Surgeon) (Chair)
  • Dr. Sepehr Zahedi, Dentist (Vice-Chair)
  • Dr. Matthew Baretich (PhD, Biomedical Engineer)
  • Dr. Dean Burrill, Public (MD, Anesthesiologist)
  • Dr. Godwin Cheung, Dentist (Oral Surgeon)
  • Dr. Kanu Grewal, Dentist (Pediatric Dentist)
  • Dr. Robert Marciniak, Dentist (Anesthetist)
  • Dr. Eleanor Reimer, Public (MD, Anesthesiologist)
  • Dr. Peter Stefanuto, Dentist (Oral Surgeon)
  • Dr. Gordon Wong, Dentist (Oral Surgeon)
  • Leon Xu, Public (P.Eng., Biomedical Engineer)

Professional Standards Committees

Role

The Patient-Centred Care Committee establishes a patient relations program to seek to prevent professional misconduct, reviews standards and guidance from the patient perspective, and develops and oversees public interest initiatives.

View the Patient-Centred Care Committee’s terms of reference (PDF) here >>

Members

  • Brad Daisley, Public (Chair)
  • Jessy Dame, Public
  • Dr. Alisa Edmond, Dentist
  • Dr. Roxana Rahmanian, MD, Public
  • Cynthia Shore, Public
  • Shelly Sorensen, Dental Hygienist
  • Dr. Kartik Suri, Dentist
  • Alison Thomas, Public
  • Chelsea Mitchell, Dental Hygienist
  • Dr. Irena Mota, Dentist

Role

The Standards and Guidance Committee develop, manage and review BCCOHP professional standards and guidance documents, and establish working groups to develop and revise documents based on subject matter.

View the Standards and Guidance Committee’s terms of reference (PDF) here >>

Members

  • Dr. Robert Whiteley (PhD), Public (Chair)
  • Merissa Bonev, Dental Hygienist
  • Christine Chore, Dental Hygienist
  • Lynn B. Dowsley, Public
  • Ann English, Public
  • Dr. Mark Fogelman, Dentist
  • Dr. Yvette Ringham-Cowan (PhD), Public
  • Dr. Lauren Milchman, Dentist
  • Eugene Shmitsman, Denturist

Board Committees

Role

The Nomination and Appointment Committee determines the required knowledge, skills, expertise and diversity required for committee members. The goal of the committee is to recommend members with the required skills, knowledge and experience to make decision-making at the College more streamlined and effective.

View the Nomination and Appointment Committee’s terms of reference (PDF) here >>

Members

  • Sabina Reitzik, CDA (Chair)
  • Dr. Chris Callen, Dentist
  • Brenda Currie, Dental Hygienist
  • Melanie Crombie, Public
  • Jo Kang, Public
  • Cathy Larson, CDA, Board member
  • Rachel Ling, Public, Board member

Role

The Audit and Risk Committee’s mandate is to assist the board in fulfilling its obligations and oversight responsibilities relating to financial planning and reporting, the audit process, internal control systems and risk management.

View the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee’s terms of reference (PDF) here >>

Members

  • Julie Guenkel, Chair, CPA, Public
  • Julie Akeroyd, Public, Board member
  • Thomas Chan, CPA, Public
  • Lisa Kong, CPA, Public
  • Jennifer Robb, CPA (MBA), Public
  • Melanie Maracle, Public 

Role

The Governance and Human Resources Committee is responsible for overseeing the employment and evaluation of the Registrar, and reviewing the College’s policies with regards to human resources.

View the Governance and Human Resources Committee’s terms of reference (PDF) here >>

Members

  • Pat Dooley, Chair, Public, Board member
  • Russell Banzet, Public
  • Barb Hambly, Public
  • Sandra Morrison, Public
  • Shirley Ross, Public, Board member
  • Guangbin Yan, Public

Working Groups

Role

The IPAC Standards Working Group was established to develop standards and guidance for Infection Prevention and Control for BCCOHP. The working group will take into consideration existing IPAC standards from the legacy colleges, including guidance for the COVID-19 Pandemic. The working group is accountable to the Standards and Guidance Committee.

View the IPAC Standards Working Group’s terms of reference (PDF) here >>

Role

The Recordkeeping Standards Working Group was established to develop recordkeeping standards and guidance for BCCOHP. The working group will consider existing recordkeeping standards from the legacy colleges to develop standards for all OHPs. The working group is accountable to the Standards and Guidance Committee.

View the Recordkeeping Standards Working Group’s terms of reference (PDF) here >>

Role

The Sedation and GA Standards Working Group was established to draft BCCOHP Sedation and GA Standards for recommendation to the Standards and Guidance Committee. The working group will take into consideration existing Sedation and GA standards from the legacy colleges. The working group is accountable to the Standards and Guidance Committee.

View the Sedation and GA Standards Working Group’s terms of reference (PDF) here >>

Members

  • Dr. Tobin Bellamy, Dentist (Oral Surgeon)
  • Dr. Dean Burrill, Public (MD, Anesthesiologist)
  • Dr. Brian Chanpong, Dentist
  • Dr. Kerim Ozcan, Dentist (Oral Surgeon)
  • Leon Xu, Public (P.Eng., Biomedical Engineer)
  • Dr. Sepehr Zahedi, Dentist
  • Registered Nurse (vacant – currently recruiting)

Role

The Quality Assurance (QA) Working Group (WG) is established to develop a modernized QA program applicable to all oral health professionals (OHPs), from the design stage through to post-implementation. The WG reports to the Quality Assurance Committee (QAC).

View the Quality Assurance Working Group’s terms of reference (PDF) here >>

Members

  • Dr. Christine Gaucher, Dentist
  • Dr. Zul Kanji (EdD), Dental Hygienist
  • Heidi Parisotto, CDA
  • Andrew Pritchard, Dental Technician
  • Sakshi Sharma, Public
  • Dr. David Vogt (PhD), Public

Resources

Current opportunities

Committee applications closed on Tuesday, January 30th at 4:30 p.m. We thank all applicants for their interest in serving on a BCCOHP committee. Applicants who have been selected to move forward in the process will be notified in mid-March. Applicants who were not selected for committees during this current round of openings may be added to the roster for future opportunities.

Committee and working group membership can require a significant time commitment. The time commitment is dependent on the committee and its current workload. 

Committee members are compensated in keeping with our Board, Committee and Working Group Remuneration and Expense Policy (PDF).

The Nomination & Appointment Committee will review and seek to fill the available positions on each committee based on each applicant’s skills, knowledge, experience and area of interest. The final membership lists will then be submitted for Board approval in early March. 

New committee terms will begin on April 1, 2024.  

Note: We thank all applicants for their interest in serving on a BCCOHP committee. To ensure that your application moves forward, please ensure it is complete and submitted prior to the deadline, as we are unable to follow up on incomplete applications. If you have questions, please email committees@oralhealthbc.ca prior to the deadline. Applicants who have been selected to move forward in the process will be notified in early February. 

More information

If you have any questions, please email committees@oralhealthbc.ca. Please also review the Guide for Committee and Working Group Members (PDF).

Changing regulatory landscape 

In late 2022, the provincial government passed new legislation that governs health regulatory colleges, called the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA). When it comes into force, it will replace the Health Professions Act (HPA). The legislation is owned by government and provides BCCOHP’s authority as a health professions regulatory college. The government has stated that the HPOA is intended to enhance patient safety, provide oversight of the regulatory colleges, and improve governance. Please see BCCOHP’s announcement about this or visit the Ministry of Health Professional Regulation site for more information.