Thursday 25 June 2026, 6-9pm, London
Dr Patricia Thomson FCGDent (l), winner of the 2026 College Medal (r)
The Livery Hall, Cutlers’ Hall, Warwick Lane, London EC4M 7BR
The 2026 College Medal, the College’s most prestigious honour, will be awarded to Dr Patricia Thomson FCGDent.
Reserved for no more than one recipient per year, the College Medal is awarded for exceptional service to the dental profession and its patients in a manner aligned with the values and mission of the College. Dr Thomson has received the award in recognition of her wholehearted commitment to the profession, and her longstanding service to CGDent and previously to the Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP), both nationally and in the west of Scotland.
Since graduating from Glasgow Dental School in 1983 until her retirement from practice this year, Dr Thomson amassed 43 years’ unbroken service as a general dental practitioner. Principal of a mixed NHS-and-private practice for over 30 years, she assisted the Vocational Dental Practitioners in her practice for over 20 of these, also nurturing the careers of many Dental Care Professionals, associate dentists and non-clinical staff. In recent years, she practised as a part-time associate dentist, and she continues to teach undergraduates as a part-time Clinical Teaching Fellow in the restorative department at the University of Glasgow.
Heavily involved for more than two decades in the highly active West of Scotland division of the former FGDP, she tutored numerous colleagues for entry exams for the Royal Colleges and presented teaching sessions on orthodontics to vocational trainees. Elected in 2016 to represent the West and North of Scotland on the national FGDP Board, she was re-elected in 2019 and transferred to the College Council when CGDent succeeded the FGDP.
In 2021, she led the establishment of CGDent Scotland to succeed the West of Scotland division, and has since continued her involvement both in the study groups and in planning the annual study days, which have been running since 1992 and now regularly attract over 400 colleagues.
She was appointed the first Chair of the College’s Regional Funding Panel and was elected Vice-President of the College in 2022. She served a second term as Vice-President in 2023-24, and was re-elected to the Council in 2024 before standing down in 2025 after completing the maximum permitted nine years’ service. She continues to represent the College as its nominee on the NHS Education for Scotland Dental Committee, a role she has held for many years.
With a longstanding interest in orthodontics, she spent three years on a part-time clinical attachment in Glasgow Dental School’s orthodontic department, training in fixed appliance therapy, and later completed an MSc in Primary Dental Care (Dental Science) with an interest in orthodontics, achieving a distinction.
She also holds the Diploma of Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (MJDF) and the Diploma of Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (MFDS), and is a Fellow of the International College of Dentists and a Past President of the West of Scotland branch of the British Dental Association.
Dr Thomson will be the fifth recipient of the College Medal, following Ian Mills, Andrew Hadden, Ario Santini and Kevin Lewis.
The presentation of the College Medal, to be made by the President of the College, Dr Roshni Karia, will be incorporated within the Fellows’ Summer Reception, and will take place in front of gathered Fellows and Associate Fellows of the College.
The Fellows’ Summer Reception is an opportunity for dental professionals to network with their peers, as well as to meet College Trustees and members of the College Council and Faculty Boards.
Taking place from 6pm to 9pm, with registration open from 5.30pm, it will be the final element of the Summer Day programme of events marking the College’s fifth anniversary.
Formal business attire is recommended.
Ticketing
The event is open to all members of the College’s Fellowship community (Associate Fellows and Fellows), as well as members of the College’s Board of Trustees, Council and Faculty Boards.
| Early Bird rate (until 31 May 2026) | Standard rate (from 1 June 2026) | |
| Associate Fellow or Fellow | £55 | £65 |
| Admitting Associate Fellow, Role Fellow or Fellow | £0 | £20 |
| Guest of admitting Associate Fellow, Role Fellow or Fellow | £55 | £65 |
Associate Fellows who have not previously been formally presented, and recent Fellows expecting to be ceremonially admitted, can book their place at the reception free of charge during the ‘early bird’ period. All those admitting may bring a guest; guest tickets are chargeable at the standard rate.
Please note that this event usually sells out ahead of time, so early booking is advised.
Non-members or existing members applying for Associate Fellowship, Role Fellowship or Fellowship and who wish to be ceremonially admitted at the Summer Reception are advised to submit their applications as soon as possible in order to allow enough time for admissions procedures to be completed.
Information on eligibility for Associate Fellowship and Fellowship and is available here