DDAG Strategic Oversight Group

Professor Catherine Coelho BDS MSc SFHEA FCGDent

Catherine Coelho is Professor of Dental Education at the University of Plymouth’s Peninsula Dental School. She has a Master’s in Clinical Education and several awards for academic excellence, including a National Teaching Fellowship. She is the Clinic Lead of the Simulated Dental Learning Environment and chairs the Faculty of Health’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committee. Equality is at the heart of everything she does, and with over 35 years’ experience as a primary care dentist, she wants the dental profession to celebrate the richness that diversity offers, whilst recognising that at times, support is needed for all to feel included.

Professor Sally Hanks BDS PhD PGCAP BSCAH Adv Dip (Accred) PFHEA FDTFEd FCGDent

Sally Hanks is a Professor of Primary Care Dentistry and currently Associate Head of Peninsula Dental School. She qualified as a dentist in 1993 and has held a variety of roles in primary and secondary care, including working with adults and children with special and additional needs, which catalysed her existing passion and drive for inclusivity. She has a PhD in leadership in dental practice, researched and co-created with GDPs, is Principal Fellow of Advance HE, and developed and continues to highlight the development of capability over competency – which is key to ensuring equality and inclusivity across all areas of the profession. Her research and education are based on patient centred care, student centred education and the personal and professional development of primary care practitioners from dental school admission to retirement and beyond. Her motivation is to inspire and embed inclusivity and humanity into education and healthcare for our patients, while ensuring our entire dental workforce team is awarded the same opportunity, enabling them to thrive in their individual careers.

Dr Vanessa Muirhead, BSc (hons), BDS, MSc (Distinction), PhD, FHEA, FDS(DPH) RCS

Vanessa Muirhead is a Clinical Senior Lecturer/Honorary Consultant in Dental Public Health. She gained a first class BSc honours degree in Experimental Pathology and a Bachelor degree in Dental Surgery (BDS) at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, QMUL. After working as a community dentist for Portsmouth and Wandsworth Primary Care Trusts, she returned to QMUL to complete a MSc degree with Distinction in Dental Public Health (DPH). Vanessa then moved to Canada to pursue a PhD at the University of Toronto and complete fellowship-supported postdoctoral research at McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

Simone Ruzario MPH BSc (Hons) Dip DH Dip DTh

Simone is a qualified Dental Hygienist and Dental Therapist with over 25 years experience in the dental industry. Simone has a BSc in Medical Microbiology and a Masters in Public Health. Simone has a deep passion for seeing individuals thrive and succeed at all levels and truly believes in the power of representation, especially at senior levels. Simone is an active member for the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT) and serves on the Executive Board. Simone is a founding member of the Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB) Advisory group for BSDHT and is instrumental in driving awareness and change within the dental profession. Simone is a strategic advisor for the College of General Dentistry.

Professor Claire Stevens CBE 

Claire is an NHS Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry, a Consultant Advisor to NHS South-West and Clinical lead for Oral Health in the National Children and Young People team, NHS England. She is media spokesperson for, and Past President of, the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry, an organisation which aims to improve oral health in children and encourages the highest standards of clinical care. Claire Chairs the Greater Manchester Paediatric Dentistry Managed Clinical Network – a group which is working to improve children’s oral health and Paediatric Dental Services across Greater Manchester. Claire was appointed CBE in the 2019 New Year’s Honours List for Services to Children.

Safiyyah Yacoobali BDS MSc MA 

A general dental practitioner and Community Dental Officer by day, and writer by night. Alongside her clinical duties, Safiyyah is the Dental President at Medic Mentor, a non-profit organisation which aims to raise aspirations for underrepresented students applying to study medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine. As part of this role, she has developed learning resources to embed racial equality and unconscious bias training into the curriculum. She spent a year as a Health Education England Clinical Fellow at the Office of the Chief Dental Officer for England, leading national projects on dental education reform. This and other roles (with the NUS, British Islamic Medical Association and Wirral BAME Network) have equipped her with invaluable leadership and policy planning experience in challenging the status quo to drive change that is sustainable, authentic and inclusive.