The Pierre Fauchard Academy (PFA), an international dental honours organisation founded in 1936, has conferred awards upon two senior members of the College.
Sir Nairn receiving his Elmer S Best Award medal and plaque. (l-r): Robert Cattoi, PFA International Executive Director; Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent; Dr Pankaj Patel OGW FCGDent, PFA International President; Dr Ghabi Kaspo, PFA Vice-President
Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent, President Emeritus of the College, has received the Academy’s prestigious Elmer S Best Memorial Award. Named in memory of the founder of the Academy, it is awarded for distinguished contributions of international significance to dentistry, and is given to no more than one dentist from outside the United States in any one year. In making the award, the PFA Board of Trustees congratulated Sir Nairn on his lifetime of service to dentistry, recognising the impact of his work across the globe.
The award was presented in New Orleans at the Academy’s 86th Annual Meeting and International Gala, which was held in October in conjunction with the American Dental Association’s 2024 Annual Convention.
Sir Nairn is the first British recipient of the award in almost 30 years and only the sixth since it was established in 1962. The previous UK-based winners were Martin Rushton in 1967, Cyril Devere-Green in 1973, Gerald Leatherman in 1977, Hamish Thomson in 1991 and Dr John McLean OBE in 1996.
Dr Pankaj Patel OGW FCGDent, the Academy’s International President, congratulated Sir Nairn on joining the illustrious list of recipients:
“It is an honour for the Pierre Fauchard Academy to recognise Sir Nairn. His contributions to dental literature and his support of dental education and dentistry in general are well-known by legions of dentists around the world. We were pleased that Sir Nairn and Lady Wilson could join us at our international gala in New Orleans.”
Thanking the Academy for the award, Sir Nairn said:
“It is an exceptional honour to be recognised by one’s peers nationally; it is humbling to be recognised and honoured by one’s peers internationally, specifically for distinguished contributions of international significance to dentistry.”
Indicating that he will treasure the prestigious honour, Sir Nairn expressed the hope that he would have the opportunity to strengthen his contribution to the activities and mission of the Academy, which are ‘to recognise and develop outstanding leadership in dentistry internationally’.
Manny Vasant wearing a PFA fellowship stole and holding a plaque commemorating his induction as an honorary fellow of the Academy. (l-r): Dr Pankaj Patel OGW FCGDent; Dr Cheryl Billingsley, PFA President-Elect; Manny Vasant MBE FCGDent; Dr Ghabi Kaspo.
Dr Manny (Manjul) Vasant MBE FCGDent, a general dental practitioner for over 50 years, was inducted as an Honorary Fellow of the Academy – another rare honour for a UK dentist – at the same event.
Dr Vasant is principal of a mixed NHS-and-private dental practice in Croydon, London, and has been staff dentist at Croydon University Hospital since 1985. He is also a registered specialist in prosthodontics and has been placing dental implants since 1994.
A former Fellow, board member and regional diploma tutor of the Faculty of General Dental Practice of the Royal College of Surgeons of England – FGDP, the forerunner of the College – he completed its Diploma in Implant Dentistry and Diploma of Membership in General Dental Surgery.
He is also a Fellow of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Honorary Fellow of the International College of Dentists, and former advisor and organiser for vocational dental training in London, examiner for the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses and recipient of the British Society for General Dental Surgery’s Cottrell Award for contribution to general dental practice. He was awarded an MBE for services to dentistry in 2001.
Commenting on his award from the PFA, Dr Vasant said:
“I cannot fully describe how much I appreciate being the recipient of such a prestigious award. I am truly honoured. Although I have been a Fellow of the PFA for several years now, this award will inspire me to enhance my contribution to the Academy, which has done so much to recognise and promote leadership in dentistry and raise the profile of the profession.”