::: Academy of Medicine - Singapore :::

13 January 2006

Dear Fellows of the Chapter of Dental Surgeons:

As many of you are aware, six of the independent Chapters of the Academy have already transformed into Colleges two years ago. Many dental Fellows have asked about the possible conversion of the Chapter of Dental Surgeons into the College of Dental Surgeons, Singapore. On behalf of the Chapter Committee, I would like to share with you the background to College formation and its implications for us.

Objectives for the Formation of the College of Dental Surgeons, Singapore
The Chapter of Dental Surgeons has grown to more than 150 fellows and is the largest independent chapter in the Academy of Medicine currently. Our Chapter represents dental surgeons from 6 listed dental specialties and some others. Under the current organizational structure of the Academy, it is difficult for the Chapter to look after the interests of these dental surgeons from different specialties as well as to develop these specialties professionally.

One of the ways to enhance the professional development of dental specialties is to transform the Chapter of Dental Surgeons into the College of Dental Surgeons, Singapore. It is for the same reasons that the six medical Chapters within the Academy transformed into Colleges.

Benefits of transforming the Chapter into a College

International Standing: Being a College will give us our rightful status in our collaborations with other dental colleges internationally. While there is much to learn from many of our more established international counterparts, there are also much that we can contribute to gestating dental specialist organizations regionally. We will be better able to project our reach beyond Singapore as a College than as a Chapter.
Local Standing:
1. The Singapore public needs to be educated on the roles of the various dental specialties. As a College, we can work with our partnering dental specialist societies to educate the public on specialist dental care.
2. The impending implementation of a legislated dental specialists' register poses an opportunity for the Chapter to re-invent itself to complement MOH policies. The autonomy that comes with being a College within the Academy will allow us the added flexibility and efficiency needed to meet the rapidly evolving changes in the profession.
Within the Academy:
1. Organizational: as a College, we can collaborate with other Colleges on an equal basis. We will have more autonomy to implement policies relevant to dental specialties and make changes to reflect current trends.

Financial: being a Chapter within the Academy, all finances have to be approved by the Academy Council. Colleges will have financial autonomy and that will allow us to plan our own activities more efficiently

Preparation of Generic Memorandum and Articles (M&A) of Association for Single- and Multiple-Specialty Colleges
Preparation for the formation of Colleges started 3-4 years ago. The 2002-2003's Academy Council undertook a major review of the Academy's M&A. Many Fellows at the 2003 Academy's AGM spoke strongly and convincingly in favour of the amendments. Their presence and overwhelming support had resulted in the unanimous approval of all the amendments related to the formation of the six Colleges.

Following that, generic M&As for single- and multiple-specialty colleges were drafted for the various Chapters. This M&A has undergone more than 10 revisions, taking into account, the unique relationship between various Colleges and the Academy, a need for a common organizational structure for all Colleges, and potential growth for all Colleges/Chapters. The prototype M&A for a multi-specialty College is the one for the College of Dental Surgeons, Singapore.

Proposed Structure of the College
The proposed College of Dental Surgeons will be an independent legal entity (registered with the Registry of Company and Business) with its M&A and organizational structure similar to that of the Academy. For example, specialist chapters (e.g. Chapter of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, Chapter of Orthodontists, etc) for the 6 main specialties will be formed within the College. The College may also facilitate the development of other specialties that do not have critical mass, by forming Specialty Sections within the College (e.g. Section of Oral Pathologists, Dental Public Health).

Each Chapter will be administered by a Specialty Board with elected & appointed Board Members as well as representatives from the respective Specialty Society. Similarly, each Section will be run by a Committee. The College in turn will be governed by a College Council comprising elected Council Members and all Specialty Board & Section Committee Chairpersons.

Impact on Fellows of the Chapter of Dental Surgeons with the Formation of the College
With the formation of the College, all current Dental Surgeons in the Chapter will be subsumed into the College, as there will no longer be a Chapter of Dental Surgeons in the Academy of Medicine. Currently, part of the Academy subscriptions is disbursed to the Colleges for their operating expenses and we expect the same to apply to the eventual College of Dental Surgeons. However, there will be provisions for College subscriptions to fund the activities of the College. Application to SDC for the use of FCDSS (Fellow of College of Dental Surgeons, Singapore) as an additional registrable qualification will be made by Academy on behalf of the College.

Involvement and Opportunity for Specialty Societies
The College plans to sign MOU with Specialty Societies. Informal discussion with various specialty societies has been largely positive. With the signing of MOUs, Specialty Chapters aim to work closely with Specialty Societies in the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) of specialists (e.g. CDE talks, on-line CDE programs, workshops). In addition, The Specialty Chapters will continue to develop the exit certification process which we have already implemented recently. Society's representative(s) will be appointed to the Specialty Board of the corresponding Chapter as is already practiced currently.

Through the representative(s) in the Chapters, Specialist Societies will be able to contribute to the development of clinical practice guidelines, recommendation of clinical indicators to the relevant authorities, drafting of consensus/position statements, certification and recertification of specialists, etc. College may also provide secretariat support to societies who need such support.

In addition to the conduct of CPD for specialists, we can also jointly work towards the conduct of educational activities for non-dental professionals & lay publics, thus strengthening our "social role" for dental specialists. Chapters will not replace Specialty Societies who will continue to represent Singapore in regional and international specialty organizations.

Proposed Work Plan for the College
If the General Body approves the College's M&A at an AGM or EOGM, the following activities are likely to be carried out, before and one year after incorporation of the College:

Submission of application to RCB by Company Secretary
Nomination and election of College Council Members
Drafting of College Bye-Laws
Designing of College Crest/Logo
Application to SDC on the use of FCDSS
Nomination and election of College President and Office Bearers of the Council
Nomination of Chairman of Chapter Specialty Board and Section Committee
AGM of College
AGMs of Chapters and election of Office Bearers
Inaugural Congress for the College, as part of Singapore-Malaysia Congress of Medicine
Induction Comitia for Fellows of the College
Preparation and signing of MOUs between College and Specialty Societies
Strategic planning for College and Chapters, and implementation of strategic plan

Dialogue Session for Fellows of the Chapter of Dental Surgeons to discuss the Formation of College
We have arranged for a dialogue session on 16 March 2006 at SM1A, Level 1, Faculty of Dentistry, NUS starting at 6.30 pm. The main purpose of this session is to give you more details of the M&A and to answer whatever queries you may have. Please indicate in the enclosed reply slip whether you are able to attend this meeting. If you are not able to attend the Forum, please do not hesitate to make enquiries directly to the Academy.

Concluding Remark
This is an exciting and challenging time for the Chapter and all dental specialists in Singapore. With the formation of College, we will have more autonomy and greater latitude to improve and co-ordinate professional development with Specialty Societies and like bodies, locally, regionally and internationally. We need to take hold of this unique window of opportunity, which allow professional bodies like the Academy, our future College and new Chapters, to take proactive and leading roles in professional development and self regulation.

We look forward to meeting you at the Chapter's Dialogue Session.

Best Wishes for the New Year

Dr Chan Siew Luen
Chairman, Chapter of Dental Surgeons