SECTION I - Constitution
Article 1
The Specialty Colleges are made up of all the dentists to whom the OMD has granted or recognised the specialist certification in their respective field.
Article 2
1. The main objective of the Colleges is the scientific and technical development of all their members, so that they can achieve the highest standard of excellence, to the advantage of the entire population.
2. The competences of the Colleges, in the ambit of the OMD, are:
a)to demand that all dental schools in the country be fitted with the technical (whether material or human) resources that allow the teaching of post-graduate programmes in adequate conditions and give the necessary training to those seeking specialisation;
b)to suggest the general rules considered relevant for the professional development of their members and of their members' auxiliary staff;
c)to define the general rules regarding the training of those seeking specialist certification, including their minimum curriculum and the criteria for their evaluation, and propose the examining College for the specialist examinations;
d)to propose the quality standards to be met by the dental schools offering specialist training and make a list of the institutions that meet them;
e)to give their fair appraisal when so requested by the competent authorities.
Article 3
The Colleges operate in the ambit of the Portuguese Dental Association, in accordance with this organisation's Statutes and regulations.
SECTION II - Members
Article 4
Membership of the Colleges becomes effective after the OMD's Board of Directors has notified the direction of the respective College, which shall inform the applicant and register him/her in the Specialist Roll.
Article 5
Registration in the Colleges does not entail the payment of any extra fee, except when otherwise determined by the OMD's Board of Directors.
Article 6
The members of the Specialty Colleges must:
a)Observe these regulations;
b)Observe and uphold the decisions and resolutions of the College's authorities;
c)Comply with the rules of professional conduct;
d)Be aware of and participate in the activities organised by the College;
e)Perform the duties for which they have been appointed;
f)Uphold the good name and prestige of the specialty;
g)Contribute, whenever possible, to the graduate and post-graduate education of dentists and other auxiliary staff related to the practice of the specialty;
h)Cooperate for the development of research in their area of expertise;
SECTION III
A) Direction
Article 7
1. The Colleges are ruled by a Direction made up of a Chairperson and a Secretariat of four members.
2. The Chairperson is appointed by the President of the OMD, whereas the members of the Secretariat are elected by the OMD's Board of Directors.
3. Each member of the Secretariat shall alternately perform the duties of Secretary.
4. The OMD's Board of Directors shall allot funding to each College, the Direction of which must appoint a member of the Secretariat as Treasurer.
Article 8
The Direction shall hold two ordinary meetings per year, regardless of any extraordinary meetings that may be considered necessary by the Chairperson, or requested by the President of the OMD, the OMD's Board of Directors or the members of the College's Direction.
Article 9
1. The Direction shall be summoned by the Chairperson, at least 8 days before the meeting, through a letter containing the place, date and time of the meeting, as well as its agenda.
2. In urgent cases, the procedure described in the previous paragraph may be disregarded and the meeting summoned by any other means.
Article 10
1. After each meeting, the Secretary on duty shall write the minutes - a brief but accurate report of the issues discussed, the decisions taken and the outcome of any voting. These minutes, once they have been read and approved, shall be signed by all the members who have attended the meeting.
2. The President of the OMD shall be sent a copy of the minutes.
Article 11
1. The Direction's decisions shall be taken by simple majority and only valid when all the members of the Direction are present.
2. The Chairperson may cast the decisive vote. 3. Whenever requested by any of the members of the Direction, voting shall be done by secret ballot.
Article 12
The College's Direction shall have logistic support in the OMD's head office. Thus, the Chairperson shall inform the President of the OMD of the day and time of the meeting, at least five days before.
Article 13
1. The members of the Direction must perform their duties, in compliance with the Statutes and the applicable regulations.
2. Requests for temporary leave or resignation, as well as the dismissal or substitution of any member shall be resolved by the OMD's Board of Directors, once the College's Direction has been heard.
Article 14
1. It is within the competence of the College's Direction to:
a)encourage closer scientific and professional links among the specialists;
b)guarantee compliance with the basic rules required for Professional qualification, defining and proposing the minimum curricular standards of dentists seeking specialist certification, as well as the syllabuses of the core subjects and the applicants' evaluation criteria;
c)give a fair appraisal of the quality of dental schools offering post-graduate training;
d)propose the examiners for the specialist examinations;
e)set the place and date for the specialist examinations;
f)appoint experts among the members of the College, when so requested by the President of the OMD;
g)Write the necessary reports;
h)inform the Board of Directors of all matters concerning the speciality, particularly those regarding the actual practice of the specialty;
i)demand the existence of dental schools that should offer efficient, high-standard specialist teaching allowing applicants to have sufficient training;
j)put forward the relevant measures in order to improve the professional standards of its members and of the auxiliary staff related to the specialty;
k)provide technical advice regarding the teaching and training of dentists.
2. The Direction may suggest or request from the OMD's Board of Directors, on its own initiative or on the Assembly's advice, the creation of working groups at the regional level, coordinated by one of its members, in order to study specific issues concerning the specialty or others directly related to it, as well as to provide support to the Direction in the performance of its duties.
Article 15
1. The Chairperson of the Direction must:
a)Represent the Specialty College;
b)Summon and preside over the meetings of the Direction, casting the decisive vote;
c)Summon and preside over the plenary meetings of the Direction;
d)Inform the President of the OMD of the College's activities, by sending copies of the minutes of the ordinary and plenary meetings;
e)Perform the duties of the College's Direction in emergency cases;
f)Cooperate with the different bodies of the OMD in what concerns the specialty;
g)Preside over the examining juries, casting the decisive vote;
h)Sign the Direction's mail;
i)Register in the specialist roll those dentists who have granted certification by the OMD.
2. The Chairperson of the Direction may temporarily delegate part or all of his/her competences to a member of the College's Direction, except those directly delegated to him/her by the President of the OMD;
3. The Secretary's duties are:
a)To replace the Chairperson when he/she is absent or has any impediments;
b)To write the minutes of the meetings;
4. The Treasurer must keep the ledgers up-to-date.
5. The other members of the Direction shall write the necessary reports or coordinate the regional working groups that may be created.
B) Plenary Sessions
Article 16
1. When considered necessary by the Direction, or requested by al least 20% of the College's members, a national plenary session shall be summoned to be attended by all the dentists registered in the College.
2. The plenary has the competence to deliberate and issue recommendations regarding the practice of the specialty and the College's competences and organisation.
3. The proceedings of the plenary session shall comply with Articles 32, 33 and 37 of the OMD's Statutes, with the necessary adaptations.
4. The plenary session shall be presided over by the Chairperson of the College's Direction. Among all those attending, two other members shall be appointed by the Chairperson to act as Secretaries.
5. The plenary shall be summoned at least ten days in advance, by means of a letter including the place, day and time of the meeting as well as the agenda.