This year’s Dr. Ralph Silverstone Teaching Award has been awarded to Dr. Taras Konanec, DMD '97. This award recognises outstanding contributions by a clinical or laboratory supervisor who teaches in the DMD program. “I was extremely touched to receive the Dr. Ralph Silverstone Award. Thank you so much to my fellow colleagues and students that contributed their support. I am very honoured to be surrounded by such a talented group of fellow faculty members and would like to share this award with them,” says Dr. Konanec. “They bring their vast clinical knowledge and passion for dentistry to the brilliant students that we enjoy so much”.
“One of the most motivating aspects about teaching is still seeing some of the dedicated clinicians that I had over 20 years ago contributing to our program. I would like to pay homage to them. My hope is that through this, the students themselves will be motivated to return to the Faculty in the future to continue teaching the importance of clinical excellence.”
Every year this award goes to a deserving clinical instructor, a group of teachers that is incredibly important for our DMD program. We depend on them to teach and mentor our students and to ensure the clinic runs efficiently. Dr. Konanec is in his 20th year teaching in the McGill University Faculty of Dentistry preclinical operative program and in the 4th year dental practice management course. “One of the most motivating aspects about teaching is still seeing some of the dedicated clinicians that I had over 20 years ago contributing to our program. I would like to pay homage to them. My hope is that through this, the students themselves will be motivated to return to the Faculty in the future to continue teaching the importance of clinical excellence.”
Dr Konanec practices at his private clinic- the Drummond Dental Group in the heart of downtown Montreal. He is passionate about operative dentistry, specifically minimally invasive dentistry, the restoration of teeth with conservative measures and the use of gold as a restorative material. He now practices using a dental operating microscope and is a member of the Academy of Microscope Enhanced Dentistry.
Congratulations, Dr. Konanec, for this award and thank you for your excellent service to the Faculty over many years.