Daniel Haas Awarded the Order of Canada
By Rachel Boutet
Professor Daniel Haas, former dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, has been appointed a Member of the Order of Canada.
The Governor General announced 88 new appointments to the Order of Canada last month. Created in 1967, the Order of Canada is one of the country’s highest civilian honours. It recognizes individuals whose achievements and service have had an impact on communities across Canada and beyond. Haas was one of several U of T community members recognized this year.
Haas is a leading expert in dental anaesthesiology and pharmacology who is recognized for his significant contributions to oral health and dental education. His research on local anaesthetic risks has enhanced patient safety. As dean of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry and an advocate for specialty recognition, he has influenced dental training and practices worldwide.
We caught up with him about this honour and reflecting on his time at U of T:
What does receiving this honour mean to you?
It is very humbling to receive this recognition. Most often, we are so focused on doing what we do, that to then find out that the work has been appreciated by others, in a formal way, is very special. Even more importantly, my family is very proud of me for achieving this distinction, and family is everything, so that brings a true sense of gratification.
What is one career accomplishments that you are particularly proud of?
I had worked very hard in pursuing the recognition of dental anaesthesia as a specialty, beginning as far back as 1994. Seeing it come to fruition in Ontario in 2007 was very gratifying, but it still wasn’t recognized nationally in Canada. When I became Dean in 2012, I stepped away from this and the leadership of this pursuit was taken on by two of my former graduate students, Brian Chanpong and Michelle Tang. In 2023 it was finally recognized nationally.
I am also pleased to see the progress and development of our own graduate program in dental anaesthesia after I stepped down as head, and the leadership coming from two other former graduate students, Carilynne Yarascavitch, and now Michelle Wong. As a professor, it is so great to see one’s own students build upon, and improve upon, a foundation that you developed.
What did your time as Dean mean to you?
I had the absolute privilege of being Dean of our school. I was able to work with great people, not just internationally, but especially at our school. Together, we worked towards making positive change while taking on numerous challenges, not the least of which was during the pandemic.
As a long-standing member of the U of T Dentistry community, what do you hope is next for the Faculty?
I hope that we constantly move forward and continue to excel in our mission at the university – namely, education and research. We truly have a great school – great students, great faculty, great staff – and we have the potential to do so much. And, that we do all this within a culture of compassion and respect.
Haas joins the following Faculty members who have also received this honour:
• John B. MacDonald (Officer)
• Dennis Smith (Officer)
• Jack Gerrow (Member)
• Tom Harle (Member)
• Norman Levine (Member)
• Bryan E. Walls (Member)
• Donald Woodside (Member)
• George Zarb (Member)
Top photo: Daniel Haas (Jeff Comber)