Section of Defense Forces Dental Services

Executive Committee

Chair

CAPT (N) Nanda van de Kraats-van Klink

Netherlands

Vice-Chair

COL Stephen J. Tanner

United States of America

Secretary

COL Jefri Razak

Brunei Darussalam

Treasurer

COL Genevieve Bussiere

Canada

Executive Officer

COL Catherine Prineas

Australia

Africa representative

LT COL Dr Ibrahima Badji

Senegal

South America Representative

COM (S) Luis Felipe Jimenez Squella

Chile

Asia Representative

LT GEN Vineet Sharma

India

SDFDS ANNUAL MEETING 2025

Join us for the SDFDS Annual Meeting 2025 in Xi’an, China on 5-8 Sept 2025!

We invite all our military dental professionals worldwide to attend what promises to be an exciting and eventful meeting!

With the support of the SDFDS Executive Committee, the meeting will locally be jointly organised by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (CPLA) Stomatological Committee and The Third Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University (formerly known as School of Stomatology, the Fourth Military Medical University).

Learn more

About us

Bylaws

1900-2004 FDI Section of Defence Forces Dental Services

Name
FDI Section of Defence Forces Dental Services
FDI Constitution
1. Objectives
  (Article III) "The objectives of the FDI shall be to represent the profession of dentistry on a voluntary, non-governmental, international basis; to arrange an Annual World Dental Congress and to establish and encourage international programmes which will advance the science and art of dentistry and the status of the profession of dentistry in the interest of improved oral and general health for all peoples."
2. Sections
  (Paragraph 3.8 of Regulations)
  - Paragraph 3.8.1 "Sections are groups of individuals with a common occupation or special interest in a specific area of dentistry"
  - Paragraph 3.8.2: "A Section of the FDI may be established by the Council."
  - Paragraph 3.8.3: "The Section Executive shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Section and the election of the Executive shall be ratified by the Council. All members of the Section Executive shall be members of a Regular or Association Member Association of the FDI or be Individual Members of the FDI. Bylaws of a Section shall be approved by the Council and the Sections shall report and be accountable to the Council."
  - Paragraph 3.8.4: "Possible costs for the respective Sections shall be estimated and submitted to the Finance Committee."
Role and Responsibilities
The role and responsibilities of the Section of Defence Forces Dental Services are:
- To provide a world forum for the exchange of ideas, innovations and concepts within the areas of Defence Forces Dental Services.
- To recruit and retain Members of the Section, to interact with these Members and to facilitate communication between the Members of the Section.
- To develop and propose educational programmes for the Annual World Dental Congress and for other FDI Conferences.
- To develop and submit draft FDI Statements to the council and to regularly update such Statements.
- To provide reports and papers for consideration for publication in the publications of the FDI and/or on the FDI's website.
- To interact with other international and national organisations on behalf of FDI, as agreed.
- To provide expertise in the area to the Council.
- To submit a proposed budget for the activities of the Section annually.
- To report to and interact with the Executive Office throughout the year.
- To provide at least one written report to the Council annually.
Membership
Any individual who is a Regular Force Officer, Reserve Officer, Retired Officer or who has an interest in an affiliation to military dentistry may become and be a Member of the Section.
Annual subscription
In accordance with the unanimous vote of the SDFDS membership (Vienna 2002), and as approved by the FDI Executive Director, it was decided that a tuition fee equivalent to $50 USD will be imposed on all military delegates to the annual SDFDS meeting.
Executive
- The Executive of the Section consists of a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson and four Members, who shall all be Members of a Regular or Associate Member Association of the FDI.
- Nominations for the positions on the Section Executive may be submitted by Member Associations and by the Members of the Section. (Provided the proposed new wording of paragraph 3.8.3 of the Constitution is approved by the General Assembly, the following text applies):
  - The Members of the Executive are elected at the Annual Meeting of the Section for a term of three years and may be elected for only one additional three-year term. The elections are to be ratified by the Council. (If the current wording of paragraph 3.8.3 of the Constitution remains unchanged, the following text applies):
    - On the recommendation of the Section, the Members of the Executive are appointed by the Council for a term of three years and may be appointed for only one additional three year term.
Business meetings
A business meeting of the Section may be organised by the Executive at the Annual Word Dental Congress for discussions about membership, budgets, programmes and activities of the Section, regarding the Executive and any other business.
Ammendments of Bylaws
The bylaws of the Section may be amended by the Council - after consultation with and on the recommendation of the Section.

News

New Treasurer

Ottawa, Canada, 01 March 2025 – Col Genevieve Bussiere replaced Brigadier-General (BGen) Jean-Pierre Picard as Treasurer for the SDFDS Executive Committee. She is currently the Director Dental Services (July 2022) and Chief Dental Officer (October 2024) of the Canadian Armed Forces. BGen Jean-Pierre Picard recently retired from military service and served as Treasurer for the past 6 years: we express our sincerest appreciation to him for his contributions during his tenure. We wish him all the best in the next chapter of his illustrious career as Executive Director leading the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) Centre of Expertise, serving as the Professional and Technical Authority for the CDCP.

SDFDS news 001 — Brigadier-General Jean-Pierre Picard’s Change of Appointment as Canadian Armed Forces Chief Dental Officer to Colonel Genevieve Bussiere; Reviewing Officer is the Surgeon General / Director General Health Services at Canadian Armed Forces, Major-General Scott Malcolm.

SDFDS news 2 — Brigadier-General Picard after his address during his military retirement ceremony.

Message of Condolences

Indonesia, 27 January 2025 – On behalf of the Executive Committee and Members of the SDFDS, we express our deepest condolences to the family and staff at The Indonesian Naval Dental Institute, Ladokgi R. E. Martadinata on the recent passing of drg. Liem Tjing Kiat at the age of 94 years. His dedication and contributions to military dentistry, particularly as the founder of The Indonesian Naval Dental Institute, Ladokgi R. E. Martadinata, has left an enduring legacy that will continue to inspire generations of military dental professionals in the future, not just in Indonesia but in the wider military dentistry community worldwide. May his soul rest in peace.