Talk to Dr. Isaac Tam for five minutes and you’ll understand why he’s drawn to leadership roles. While many orthodontists focus solely on precision and technique, Dr Tam is passionate about creating spaces where colleagues feel valued, heard, and empowered to contribute their best ideas.
His path to orthodontics started early, watching his father build his own pediatric dentistry practice in Canada. Isaac knew then that dentistry was his calling. After dedicating years to the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists and now serving as Secretary/Treasurer, he’s bringing a philosophy that goes beyond successful practices—he’s focused on building genuine community.
A Family Affair
As the son of immigrants who came to Canada, Isaac grew up understanding what it takes to build something from scratch. His father’s dedication to his patients left an impression, and today, Isaac and his brother Sam are carrying that legacy forward.
The brothers run a dual-specialty practice, both orthodontics and pediatric dentistry, across three locations in Delta, Vancouver, and North Vancouver. “Sam and I continually bounce ideas off each other and try to make the best experience possible for our patients,” Isaac explains. That face-to-face time? Essential. “We can look over each other’s shoulders and have that stone’s throw away communication.”
Now in his 20th year of practice (Sam’s in his 16th), Isaac has seen a lot change. “Not everyone fits into these cookie-cutter molds of typical treatment modalities,” he says. “Some need a little time, little patience, little creativity, and of course, a touch of humor.” He’s also watched parenting styles evolve and communication demands increase. The key is staying flexible and keeping lines of communication open—not just between the brothers, but with patients and their families.
And yes, their father is still around. Though semi-retired, he helps cover emergencies when his sons are traveling to conferences. “He holds down the fort, clipping wires, making sure people are happy,” Isaac says. Three generations of practice, with potentially a third on the horizon—Sam’s daughter is a year and a half. “She’s got some time,” Isaac laughs, “but she’s going to have a lot of pressure on her.”
Teaching and Giving Back
Both Isaac and Sam teach part-time in the graduate orthodontic clinic at UBC. “It’s great seeing the next generation and their bright minds, their hunger for knowledge,” he says. “These are what keep our organization relevant, their enthusiasm, their insights, their perspectives on how to make orthodontics better.”
The family has also set up the TAM Foundation, which gives them a say in where their charitable donations go. They support dental missions, local hospitals, education at UBC, and other causes they care about. “Funding over the years has been on the decline,” Isaac notes, “so it’s even more important that we keep this up in an organized manner.”
On the tech front, Isaac is keeping an eye on AI developments. “We’re just at the tip of the iceberg with AI,” he observes. “Everyone’s taking baby steps, trying to develop applications. It’s an exciting time. Stay tuned—hang on to your seats.” But even with all the technological advances, he’s clear that the human element matters most. Collaboration, open communication, treating each patient as an individual—that’s not going anywhere.
His Message to Young Orthodontists
If you’re a young orthodontist on the fence about getting involved with organizations such as the PCSO, Isaac has some straightforward advice: do it.
“I would encourage them to get involved in any way possible with organized dentistry, be it local, PCSO, AAO, any capacity,” he says. “It’s a long career, it’s a long game. To make it more fruitful, you have to interact with your colleagues. You have to look beyond your four walls. You’ll just enjoy your career that much more.”
He’s clear that PCSO is ready to welcome new volunteers. “Reach out to anyone involved, pick their brain, ask them questions about how to get involved. And guess what? We’re always going to try to make room for you. There’s always spots to be filled. If it’s not immediately available, it’s in the pipeline. You’re going to love being involved.”
Isaac’s vision is pretty simple: he wants everyone to feel seen, heard, and safe. “That’s fundamental to fostering trust,” he explains. When people feel secure enough to share their ideas and ask questions, that’s when real innovation happens. And that’s especially important for new graduates who bring fresh perspectives and energy to the field.
Learning from Different Perspectives
One thing that stands out about Isaac is his willingness to be changed by what he learns from others. “My goal is to become educated for my own personal journey and to see different perspectives,” he explains. “These new perspectives change me, and now that I have these different perspectives I am striving to learn how I can support the differences people bring so that I can enable, include and engage with all of my colleagues.”
It’s not just talk. Whether he’s working with seasoned practitioners who’ve been doing this for decades or recent graduates bringing fresh ideas, Isaac listens. In his practice, that means adapting treatment to each patient’s unique situation. In PCSO, it means creating space for all voices at the table.
Why PCSO?
Isaac’s involvement with PCSO started right out of the gate. Fresh out of school, he noticed something about the volunteers. “I saw how excited all the PCSO volunteers were,” he recalls. “They had joy. They were happy people. And that attracted me.”
He jumped in and served on the board for four years. Then he rolled off. And immediately missed it. “I really missed the collaborative aspect, the ‘how do we make this organization better?’ That’s when I knew I had to put my name back in the hat. It was that much fun.”
Ask him what makes PCSO work, and he’ll tell you it’s the collaboration. “Amazing things happen when everyone pulls together and puts their ideas on the table. It’s even better when they’re contrasting ideas because now we get to consider different perspectives. That makes the best boards and the best volunteers.”
Looking Ahead
Isaac is particularly excited about the upcoming PCSO meeting in Vancouver. Getting to show colleagues around his community. That’s the kind of thing that makes organized dentistry fun for him. “It’s going to be great showing people around our neck of the woods,” he says.
When you ask him what makes PCSO special, he doesn’t overthink it. “It’s the people that make it. The people who have the same values, who want to help each other. That makes it so much better.”
After 20 years in practice and many years of service to PCSO, Isaac still finds joy in the small things—the collaboration days with Sam, teaching residents at UBC, the friendships formed at conferences. “It’s the little things that make so much joy,” he says.
His approach to orthodontics—and to life—is pretty straightforward: stay curious, keep learning, treat people well, and don’t take yourself too seriously. Whether he’s adjusting treatment for a patient who needs a creative approach, welcoming a new graduate into PCSO, or looking ahead to his eventual role as president, the philosophy stays the same.
The orthodontic profession is evolving fast. Technology is advancing, patient expectations are changing, and the next generation is bringing fresh energy and ideas. Dr Tam sees all of this as opportunity. His work with PCSO, his practice, and his teaching at UBC all point to the same thing: orthodontics is better when we support each other, stay open to new perspectives, and remember why we got into this field in the first place.