Leading Locally – ITI Section Spotlight: Mexico, Central America & Caribbean

The ITI operates through a global network of Sections that bring professional development opportunities to members in their local regions. Each Section is guided by a dedicated Leadership Team responsible for implementing the ITI’s educational initiatives, fostering community engagement, and promoting excellence in implant dentistry.

In this new feature, the ITI Blog takes a 360° look at both the personal and professional lives of the dedicated leadership teams who drive the ITI’s mission in their respective regions. We’ll explore their professional journeys, their motivations for joining the ITI, and gain insights into the people behind the titles.

Let’s meet the team behind the ITI Section Mexico, Central America & Caribbean.

Leadership Insights: Q&A with the Mexico, Central America & Caribbean Section Team

In this issue, we interview Dr. Arturo M. Flores Villarreal (Chair), Dr. Said Arturo Sánchez (Education Delegate), Dr. Elena Balcázar (Communications Officer/Young ITI Delegate), and Dr. Brenda Garza (Study Club Coordinator).

What inspired you to join the Section Leadership Team?

Dr. Arturo M. Flores Villarreal (Chair): To help spread the ITI philosophy in my country since I believe it has helped me a lot in my education and, at the end, all to the benefits of my patients.

Dr. Said Arturo Sánchez (Education Delegate): I was inspired to join the ITI leadership team because of my strong belief in the value of evidence-based practice. From the very beginning of my journey with ITI, I felt a deep connection to its philosophy, which aligns closely with my commitment to providing the highest standard of care for my patients. Being part of the leadership team allows me to actively contribute to promoting and expanding this approach within the professional community.

Dr. Elena Balcázar (Communications Officer/Young ITI Delegate): What inspires me most is the opportunity to contribute to the growth of our section and to share the ITI philosophy with other young professionals, helping to build a stronger, more connected community.

Dr. Brenda Garza: I truly believe in the power of education, and that it should be delivered in a welcoming environment where professionals feel comfortable sharing their experiences based on evidence. Promoting networking also fosters support among professionals to provide increasingly better treatments for patients.

What project or initiative with the ITI are you most proud of?

Arturo: What I like the most is all the different alternatives to learn and stay updated. Consensus publications, Online Academy, treatment guides just to mention a few.

Said: Without a doubt, the ITI Scholarship Program is the project I’m most proud to be associated with. I truly believe it is one of the most impactful initiatives within the ITI, as it promotes continuous learning and plays a vital role in shaping the next generation of leaders in oral implantology. In addition to this, the ITI Treatment Guide series is an essential resource for clinicians, providing clear, evidence-based protocols for everyday practice.

Elena: Definitely the ITI Academy. I believe it’s an excellent platform that supports continuous learning by providing structured, high-quality education tailored to our professional development.

Brenda: Study Clubs.

What’s one professional challenge the ITI has helped you overcome?

Arturo: To be in the educational field. ITI has helped me so much structuring educational content for course design and lesson planning.

Said: Joining the ITI was a turning point in my career. Most of my patients present with complex cases, and the ITI’s principles have greatly supported my clinical decision-making. Beyond that, being part of a community of mentors and peers who share the same values has been truly inspiring and motivating.

Elena: Through its evidence-based resources, structured education and expert-led discussions, the ITI has given me the confidence and knowledge to apply the most current best practices in my daily work.

Brenda: It allows me to have access to a wide collection of evidence-based content that I can share with my students.

What advice would you give to professionals considering involvement with ITI?

Arturo: If you are not part of the ITI family yet, you don’t know what you are missing. ITI has transformed my professional career like I will never imagine in all positive ways.

Said: For clinicians committed to delivering care grounded in the highest level of evidence and clinical protocols, the ITI is an invaluable organization to be part of.

Elena: If you are a professional dedicated to implant dentistry, getting involved with the ITI and embracing its principles is essential. It offers a strong foundation of evidence-based practice, continuous education, valuable networking, and a global community committed to excellence.

Brenda: ITI has various tools that promote professional development in implantology. I would recommend that you use all of them: the platform, the blogs, and the Study Clubs, preferably by scheduling your topics of interest.

Which ITI core values do you most strongly identify with and why?

Arturo: I share the same core values with the ITI. In my whole career I have been dedicating part of my time to teach and share knowledge in my community, inspiring excellence in dentistry all for the benefit of our patients.

Said: Of all the values I identify with, if I had to choose one, it would be ‘Setting the Standard’. This value resonates with me the most because it reflects the ITI’s unwavering commitment to excellence in implant dentistry. It emphasizes evidence-based practices and, most importantly, a focus on what is best for each individual patient—embodying a truly patient-centered approach to care.

Elena: I am committed to upholding the highest standards of evidence-based implant dentistry to help restore our patients’ oral health and improve their quality of life.

Brenda: Champions of Care. We act responsibly towards society, patients, and colleagues, protecting and promoting their interests. The focus of our treatments should be to generate well-being for our patients, and therefore give satisfaction to the clinician by being the provider of this. A person who feels good about themselves has a greater capacity to seek to generate this well-being in others.

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The Mexico, Central America & Caribbean leadership team exemplifies the ITI’s commitment to excellence in implant dentistry through education, research, and community building. Their diverse backgrounds and shared passion for advancement in the field continue to drive the Section’s growth and impact across the region.

Stay tuned for our next Section Spotlight, where we’ll introduce you to more of the remarkable professionals who make the ITI the world’s largest academic organization in implant dentistry.