President’s Message  

Dear Members of the Academy for Sports Dentistry,

It is both an honour and a privilege to address you formally for the first time as the newly inducted President of the Academy for Sports Dentistry. I am deeply grateful for the trust you have placed in me, and I look forward to serving our community with enthusiasm, transparency, and a strong commitment to advancing our shared mission of ‘preventing and treating sports-related dental injuries and oral diseases and ensure the long-term safety and health of athletes at all levels’.

As we move into this new term, our priorities remain firmly rooted in the three pillars established last year: membership, capitalization, and branding. These values are essential to strengthening every aspect of our Academy’s foundation, expanding our reach, and ensuring that sports dentistry continues to grow as a recognized and respected discipline within the broader sports medicine landscape.

I am particularly passionate about data collection and research, both of which are vital to propelling sports dentistry forward. By building stronger evidence, we can better demonstrate the value we bring to athletes, teams, and medical colleagues. Strengthening our relationships within the sports medicine and community is essential, and I believe that collaborative research and shared clinical insights will help us elevate our role at every level of sport.

As we begin this new cycle, I would also like to remind everyone that membership renewals are now due. Our members are truly the lifeblood of this organization. Your participation, expertise, and advocacy are what allow us to grow, innovate, and represent sports dentistry with pride. We stand by the belief that “every dentist is a sports dentist,” and it is through your continued involvement* that we can ensure our Academy remains the leading voice in athlete oral health, safety, and performance.

Together, we will continue to build momentum, expand our influence, and reinforce the Academy’s position as an essential member of the sports medical team. I look forward to working with all of you in the year ahead and to celebrating the achievements we will accomplish as a united, forward‑thinking organization.

Thank you for your dedication, your passion, and your commitment to the athletes we serve.

Warm regards,

Dr. E. Jan Chithalen BSc, DDS, FASD, FICCMO

President, Academy for Sports Dentistry

*P.S. Committee positions remain available. If you are interested in any aspect of our Academy (Constitution & Bylaws, Membership, Research, Strategic Planning, Student Affiliate Program, Affiliations, Corporate Sponsorship), please let our Executive Secretary, Tracy Abel know by responding to this message.