Dr. Ronald (Ron) Markey (pictured with Dr. Alastair Nicoll) obtained his DDS from McGill in 1969. He continued his graduate work at the University of Washington in Seattle, earning his M.Sc. in Orthodontics in 1974. After he moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, he quickly got involved in the political realm. He is a member of the College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia (President 1982-1984), the British Columbia Society of Orthodontists, the Canadian Association of Orthodontists (President 1998-1999) and the Canadian Dental Association (President 1987-1988). At the CDA Annual Meeting, held on April 15th, Dr. Markey received the title of Chair Emeritus, the second to be awarded by the Association in 114 years. This title comes as recognition for his years of service as CDA Chair. “My involvement with the CDA was quite minimal for a few years until I became Chair,” he explains. Indeed, what was originally a two-year term turned into a ten-year journey as Chair. “I didn’t plan to stay for ten years!” he says, laughing. “But one thing led to another, and my term was renewed once, twice, three times, and then a fourth time.” During our phone conversation, Dr. Markey emphasizes how rewarding this experience has been for him. “I thoroughly enjoyed being the CDA Chair through the years. I was fortunate enough to work with outstanding people and hopefully, I fulfilled my responsibilities to the best of their expectations.”
Dr. Markey also urges dentists, new graduates or not, to get involved with professional associations. “Dentistry can be confining,” he explains. “Many of us spend most of our time in our office, working with few to no colleagues. Continuing Education courses, professional associations and colleges can help us connect with one another and learn more about specific or overall health issues. It brings a different dimension to the profession, and ultimately leads to a more fulfilling career.” When discussing his McGillian roots, Dr. Markey remembers the Faculty of Dentistry’s exceptional instructors, teachers and alumni: “There are tremendous people coming out of McGill. I have fond memories of many of them, including Drs. Ernie Ambrose and Ken Bentley, both of whom I’ve had the chance to run into later on at the CDA. There are many others who have had a great influence on me, and made outstanding contributions to the profession.”