Dr. Sunny Tatra

Hello, I am Gurminder Tatra, although everyone who knows me calls me Sunny.

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I graduated from the University of British Columbia Faculty of Dentistry in 2003 as part of the Canadian Military Dental Officer Training Program, which meant my dental education was fully funded. By the time I started dental school, I had already completed nine years of military service. My first posting after graduation was to Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, so my family and I arrived in Victoria in June 2003. Shortly after settling in, I joined the Victoria District Dental Society.

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I still remember attending my first VicDDS meeting as a new graduate and thinking how fortunate I was to become part of such a welcoming and supportive organization. I had the opportunity to speak with many experienced members who had spent decades in the profession. What struck me most was the genuine passion they had for dentistry, their willingness to share their knowledge, and how readily they welcomed me into the fold. They offered invaluable advice, guidance, and mentorship that helped shape both my career and my involvement in organized dentistry.

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In September 2004, I became a Director and became more engaged with the issues facing our profession. Over the years, I had the privilege of working alongside many outstanding colleagues and past presidents on the executive. Together, we worked to make a positive difference for our dental community, addressing issues such as the treatment of spouses and navigating the many challenges that ultimately led to the loss of self-regulation.

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In May 2007, after 17 years of military service, I left the Canadian Armed Forces as our first son arrived and we made Victoria our permanent home. As the years went on, I took on the role of Mentorship Director and continued to stay actively involved with the Society. During that time, we witnessed the transition from Yellow Pages to internet searches and smartphones, which eventually led to the end of the VicDDS Emergency Dental Service pager and the “A-Dental Emergency” program. Competing through Google Ads and maintaining a strong online presence had simply become too costly for the Society, and in 2014 we made the difficult decision to shut the service down.

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Along the way, I was also pleased to help introduce our track days, and later worked with many colleagues as we navigated the unprecedented challenges of returning to practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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From June 2023 until June 2025, I stepped away from the executive for family reasons. When I returned, Andrew jokingly referred to me as the “OG” (Old Guy), as well as the keeper of much of the Society’s history dating back to 2003. The VicDDS has always held a special place in my heart because it has consistently tried to do what is best for its members and for our profession. I can honestly say I have been the recipient of exceptional mentorship, support, and advice throughout my career. In return, I have always tried to share my own experiences with our members in the hope that the advice/information might help make someone else’s path a little easier. That is certainly not to imply I have all the answers, but I do know that if someone is facing a challenge, there is almost certainly someone within our Society who has been through something similar and is willing to offer a helpful perspective.

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Over the years, I have worked in a military dental practice, Moonlite as a dentists after hours while in the military, a small group practice, and, since 2014, have owned and operated a solo practice with a small team of five to six staff members. Building a brand-new clinic in 2014 was both a significant challenge and one of the most rewarding accomplishments of my professional career.

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On the family front, I have been married to my best friend for 28 years and counting, and together we have two wonderful boys, now 19 and 17. When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me tinkering with cars, working around our property on the Malahat, travelling, hiking, driving on the track, skiing, or getting back into golf now that my boys have taken an interest in the game. Most of all, I enjoy spending time with family and friends.

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During the coming year, my focus will be on strengthening the sense of camaraderie within our Society, continuing to build our dental community, and, perhaps most importantly, helping our members understand how the new CE and QAP programs will work. This is a significant transition for all of us, and I hope to help ensure our members are informed, prepared, and supported every step of the way.

 

Sincerely,

Dr. Gurminder (Sunny) Tatra

2026-2027 VicDDS President