Tuesday 3 March 2026, 7.00pm-8.00pm, online
My journey to College Fellowship: Fatimah Jawaid
Fatimah Jawaid FCGDent, a general dental practitioner based in Birmingham, describes her professional journey and how her experience led to Fellowship of the College.
Q. Can you tell us about yourself and your career?
A. I am a dedicated general dentist working in Edgbaston, Birmingham. I graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2012 with Distinction in Clinical Dentistry. I completed my FD year and went on to complete a further DCT year in Restorative Dentistry at Barts Dental Hospital, London. After this, I settled into an associate role in Birmingham, completed my MSc in Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics, PGCert in Dental Education and have recently completed my Implant Training. I am currently in the process of becoming a principal dentist and look forward to the new challenges ahead!
Outside of work, my main job is being mummy to Liyana (aged 5) and Layth (aged 3). We live in Moseley, Birmingham, with my husband, Sadiq, who is a currently a maxillofacial registrar. I enjoy going to the gym, travelling and exploring new cultures with my tribe in tow!
Q. Why did you decide to apply for Fellowship of the College?
A. I obtained College Fellowship (FCGDent) through the ‘Fellowship by experience’ route. I felt this achievement allowed me to demonstrate high standards in primary care dentistry and reflect the commitment I had put into my career since graduation. Upon researching the criteria, I realised that I was able to meet the domains and successfully achieve Fellowship.
Q. Which three of the five fellowship domains does your professional experience meet?
A. The three domains that I used for my Fellowship application were Clinical; Teaching, Learning & Assessment; and Publications & Research.
My Masters in Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics from Kings College London (2019) provided me with the evidence for the Clinical Domain as it had more than the required credits.
The final year dissertation allowed me to the achieve the Publications & Research Domain.
For the Teaching, Learning & Assessment Domain, I used my PGCert in Dental Education and I demonstrated that I had at least four years’ experience in a role as an Educational Supervisor for Foundation Dentists.
Q. What would you say to others who are considering applying for Fellowship through the experience route?
A. Still considering myself as a young dentist, I am excited to see the opportunities and ideas that are being undertaken within the College and how they will impact my future practising career.
Having completed several challenging postgraduate courses, the recognition I received from the College, and being able to call myself a Fellow of the College at 31, felt very rewarding indeed!
Dental professionals can apply for admission to Fellowship of the College – the mark of accomplishment in dentistry – by two routes: Fellowship by Experience and Fellowship by Equivalence.
To apply for Fellowship by the Fellowship by Experience route, you will need to submit a CV and detailed evidence showing how you meet the eligibility criteria for three of the five fellowship domains. The domains are:
- Clinical
- Teaching, learning & assessment
- Leadership & management
- Publications & research
- Law & ethics
We have “Gateway” criteria which require less evidence and will be processed more quickly, if you meet all these requirements.
Full details about routes to Fellowship and how to apply are available here.
Nominations open for Council elections
Nominations are now open for elections to six seats on the College Council, and all Full Members, Associate Fellows and Fellows of the College are invited to nominate themselves as candidates.
Nominations are sought for the following seats:
- East of Scotland
- National representative
- Overseas representative
- South East & South West Thames
- Wessex & Oxford
- West & North of Scotland
Candidates for regional seats must live or work within that region, and be registered with that region with CGDent. Candidates for the National seat must live or work in the UK, and have a registered UK address with CGDent. Candidates for the Overseas seat must practice dentistry wholly outside the UK, and have a registered overseas address with CGDent.
All eligible members as at 16 January 2025 have been emailed a link to the nominations website by the College’s election services provider, Mi-Voice. If you are interested in standing for election, you will need to complete the nomination process via that link, where you will be asked for further information, the names of two supporting members, and to submit an election statement.
Members may stand simultaneously for both the National seat and the regional seat for which they are eligible (if applicable) by submitting a separate nomination form for each seat.
Further information on the role, nomination requirements and the election timetable can be found via the button below.
The deadline for receipt of nominations is Sunday 16 February 2025.
If you think you might like to put yourself forward as a candidate and would like further information before deciding, we would be pleased to have a confidential discussion and to answer any questions you may have about the role and the process. Please get in touch via [email protected]
Parliamentary briefing on preventative oral healthcare
Earlier this week, the College and Haleon presented The Dental Health Barometer – the organisations’ joint report on improving the provision of preventative oral healthcare – at a breakfast briefing held in Parliament.
Jon Elliott, Roshni Karia MCGDent, Simon Thornton-Wood PhD, Kate Fabrikant FCGDent
The meeting was one of a series of discussions being held with stakeholders to communicate and gather support for the recommendations identified in the report, which are based on the experience and insight of general dental professionals on how to bridge the gap between intentions and practical delivery of preventative care.
The research underlying the report included a survey of 2,000 UK dental patients and over 500 dental professionals which highlighted inconsistencies in the provision of preventative oral healthcare advice, and rich discussions held with 77 oral health professionals, in all dental team roles, in focus group meetings hosted at eight general dental practices throughout the UK.
Attendees at the meeting were:
- Sadik Al-Hassan MP (Labour, North Somerset)
- David Arnold (Director of Communications, Oral Health Foundation)
- Lewis Atkinson MP (Labour, Sunderland Central)
- Professor Avijit Banerjee FCGDent (Professor of Cariology & Operative Dentistry at King’s College London and Chair of the College’s Faculty of Dentists)
- Jon Elliott (Head of Corporate Affairs for Northern Europe, Haleon)
- Dr Kate Fabrikant FCGDent (Medical Affairs Director for Northern Europe, Haleon)
- Dr Elizabeth Fisher (Programme Lead for Children and Young People’s, Nuffield Trust)
- Dr Roshni Karia MCGDent (President of the College)
- Professor Philip Preshaw (President, British Society of Periodontology)
- Simon Thornton-Wood PhD (Chief Executive of the College)
- Dr Jason Wong MBE FCGDent (Chief Dental Officer, NHS England)
- Philip Worsfold (Head of Dental Public Health, Department of Health and Social Care)
Notice of elections
Elections will soon be held for six seats on the College Council, and eligible members are encouraged to consider standing.
The Council is the voice of our members. Overseeing our role as a professional body and guiding Trustees on the development of the College to fulfil its mission, it includes representation based both on geographical region and professional role.
Nominations will be open on Friday 17 January 2025 to Sunday 16 February 2025. Following validation of nominations, voting will open from Wednesday 26 March 2025 and will close on Friday 2 May 2025, with the results announced later that month.
The role
As a Council member, you would provide leadership, strategic input and direction in all the professional affairs of the College. You would be helping to shape key moments in the College’s growth and could also get involved in specific initiatives on areas such as careers, policy and standards.
If elected, you would serve a three-year term from June 2025 – June 2028, during which you would be expected to attend three one-day, face-to-face meetings in June, October and February each year, as well as regular online meetings and occasional committees outside of business hours. Those elected will be expected to attend their first Council meeting on Friday 13 June 2025 in Sheffield, where they will be formally inducted.
You would also be expected to vote, and eligible to stand, in the annual election of up to two Vice Presidents; eligible to participate in the triennial appointment of a College President; and expected to attend College events around the UK.
You would be able to stand for re-election in 2028, and individuals may serve up to three elected terms (i.e. nine years) on the Council. The role is voluntary, but we do cover essential expenses. A role profile is available below.
Council seats for election in 2025
Nominations will be sought for the following seats:
- East of Scotland
- National representative
- Overseas representative
- South East & South West Thames
- Wessex & Oxford
- West & North of Scotland
Further seats on the Council will be due for election in 2026 and 2027 – see the College Council page for details.
Eligibility
All Full Members, Associate Fellows and Fellows of the College, regardless of dental team role, are eligible to nominate themselves as candidates for election to the Council in 2025.
Candidates for regional seats must live or work within that region, and be registered with that region with CGDent.
Candidates for the National seat must live or work in the UK, and have a registered UK address with CGDent.
Candidates for the Overseas seat must practice dentistry wholly outside the UK, and have a registered overseas address with CGDent.
Associate Members wishing to nominate themselves for election will need to have successfully completed an upgrade to Full Membership before submitting an application. Any non-members will first need to join the College as a Full Member. In either case, it is advised to allow at least two weeks for this process to complete.
College electoral regions
This map can be downloaded here
If you are unsure which College region you are in, check your entry on the Member Register
Nominations process
On Thursday 16 January 2025, all eligible members will be emailed a link to the nominations website by the College’s election services provider, Mi-Voice.
If you are interested in standing for election, you will need to complete the nomination process via that link (once received), where you will be asked for further information, and to submit an election statement.
You will also be required to provide the names of two supporters of your nomination. Your supporters must each be a Full Member, Associate Fellow or Fellow of the College within the constituency you are standing for. If you are unsure of the membership status or region of potential supporters, please consult our Member Register
If you think you might like to put yourself forward as a candidate and would like further information before deciding, we would be pleased to have a confidential discussion and answer any questions about the role and the process. Please get in touch via [email protected]
The deadline for submission of applications will be Sunday 16 February 2025.
Please note that the dates of the first Council meeting for newly-elected Council members and for the email to members from Mi-Voice have been changed since this item was first published.
Presentations of Associate Fellows and Fellows
Friday 13 June 2025, 5pm-8pm
Professor Sreenivas Koka FCGDent being ceremonially admitted into Fellowship by College President Dr Roshni Karia
The Old Banqueting Hall, Cutlers’ Hall, 7-15 Church St, Sheffield S1 1HG
Associate Fellows and Fellows of the College are invited to be presented for ceremonial admission into our Fellowship community by the President of the College, Dr Roshni Karia.
The presentations will be incorporated within the College Summer Reception, and will take place in front of gathered Fellows, Associate Fellows and members of the College, alumni of the former FGDP(UK) Diploma in Restorative Dentistry programme and other members of the dental professions.
This is the first time Associate Fellows have had the opportunity to be presented, and all Associate Fellows attending the Summer Reception will be ceremonially admitted and can attend the event free of charge if they book their place by 30 April 2025.
New Fellows, and any College Fellow attending the Summer Reception who has not either been ceremonially admitted at a previous College Fellows’ Reception or had their fellowship of the former FGDP(UK) conferred at a Diplomates’ Day, will also be ceremonially admitted and can likewise attend the reception without charge if they book by 30 April 2025.
Photographs of each presenting Fellow and Associate Fellow being ceremonially admitted by the President will be made available shortly afterwards to download free of charge.
The Summer Reception is an opportunity for dental professionals to network with their peers and will also include the presentation of the President’s Award and the announcement of the 2025 winner of the College Medal (tbc).
The Summer Reception will be preceded in the same venue by the Inaugural College of General Dentistry Lecture, ‘Satisficing’ standards in dentistry: Who decides? Who benefits?. Delivered by Martin Kelleher FCGDent, Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at King’s College Dental Hospital, the lecture will build on the rich legacy of the former FGDP’s Malcolm Pendlebury Lectures. Registration on the day opens at 2pm, with the lecture starting promptly at 2.30pm and the event concluding at 4.30pm after Q&A/discussion.
Members of the College are also welcome to attend the 1992 Circle Lunch, hosted by Sir Nairn Wilson CBE and the 1992 Circle, which takes place prior to the College Lecture (places are limited).
Associate Fellowship of the College recognises enhanced knowledge and skills, and demonstrates commitment to lifelong learning and the highest levels of patient care. Associate Fellows are senior members of the College who are advancing their journey towards Fellowship. Recognised as Enhanced Practitioners on the College’s Career Pathway, their professional standing is marked with the use of the postnominals ‘AssocFCGDent’.
Associate Fellowship is currently open to those holding an eligible Postgraduate Diploma or Masters level qualification in a relevant subject.
Fellowship is the most senior membership of the College; a mark of distinction across clinical and professional domains, and of significant commitment to the art and science of dentistry through professional development, reflective practice and diligence in upholding the highest standards of clinical care. Recognised as Accomplished Practitioners on the College’s Career Pathway, the professional standing of College Fellows is signified through the use of the postnominals ‘FCGDent’.
Admittance to Fellowship can be achieved by experience or by equivalence.
Anyone successfully completing an application to join the College as an Associate Fellow or Fellow (or to upgrade their existing membership to become an Associate Fellow or Fellow) before 30 April will also have the opportunity to be ceremonially admitted at the Summer Reception and will therefore be able to book their reception ticket at no charge.
It is advised to submit applications as soon as possible in order to allow enough time for admissions procedures to be completed.
Prices are as follows until 30 April:
| Lecture only | Reception only | Lecture & Reception | |
| Associate Fellow or presenting Fellow | |||
| Member or Fellow | |||
| Non-member |
To secure your place at the above ‘Early Bird’ rates, click the button below:
Diploma in Restorative Dentistry alumni gathering
Friday 13 June 2025, 2pm-8pm
Candidates awaiting conferral of awards by the former FGDP(UK) at a Diplomates’ Day
The Old Banqueting Hall, Cutlers’ Hall, 7-15 Church St, Sheffield S1 1HG
Alumni and tutors of the Diploma in Restorative Dentistry of the former Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP) are invited to a special gathering marking 20 years of the landmark programme, raising standards and building a strong professional community.
We are delighted that past Directors & Chief Examiners of the programme will be joining us, including Ian Wood FCGDent, Paul Brunton, Mike Mulcahy FCGDent, Nick Lewis FCGDent, Phil Dawson FCGDent and David Cheshire.
Alumni and tutors are encouraged to pass on this invitation to the reunion to others who were involved in the programme; we do not want anyone to miss out.
The special gathering will be incorporated within both the Inaugural College of General Dentistry Lecture and a College Summer Reception. Members of the College are welcome to attend the 1992 Circle Lunch, hosted by Sir Nairn Wilson CBE and the 1992 Circle, which takes place prior to the College Lecture (places are limited).
The lecture, ‘Satisficing’ standards in dentistry: Who decides? Who benefits?, will be delivered by Martin Kelleher FCGDent, Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at King’s College Dental Hospital. Taking place on Friday 13 June 2025 in the historic Cutlers’ Hall in Sheffield, it will build on the rich legacy of the FGDP’s Malcolm Pendlebury Lectures. Registration on the day opens at 2pm, with the lecture starting promptly at 2.30pm and the event concluding at 4.30pm after Q&A/discussion.
The Summer Reception will follow from 5pm to 8pm, with registration from 4.30pm. Incorporating the fourth annual College Fellows’ Summer Reception, this is an opportunity for dental professionals to network with their peers and will include the ceremonial admission of new Fellows and Associate Fellows, the presentation of the President’s Award and the announcement of the 2025 winner of the College Medal (tbc). There will be an opportunity for a range of alumni photos and photos with other guests, all of which will be made available to attendees shortly afterwards to download free of charge.
The FGDP(UK) Diploma in Restorative Dentistry brings automatic eligibility for Associate Fellowship of the College and also satisfies the Clinical Domain of Fellowship, and alumni are encouraged to join the College in order to support its historic mission to build a Royal College for dentistry.
Anyone successfully completing an application to join the College as an Associate Fellow or Fellow (or to upgrade their existing membership to become an Associate Fellow or Fellow) before 30 April will have the opportunity to be ceremonially admitted at the Summer Reception and will be able to book their reception ticket at no charge.
It is advised to submit applications as soon as possible in order to allow enough time for admissions procedures to be completed.
Prices are otherwise as follows:
| Lecture only | Reception only | Lecture & Reception | |
| Member or Fellow | |||
| Non-member |
To secure your place at the above ‘Early Bird’ rates, click the button below:
Progressing your career in implant dentistry
Saturday 17 May 2025, 3.45pm-4.30pm, Birmingham
Enhanced CPD Theatre, Hall 5, National Exhibition Centre, North Ave, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT
This lecture will describe a progression which the College is developing, from new practitioner in the field to recognised mentor, through which implant dentists can develop their careers and gain recognition for the skills, knowledge and experience acquired at each stage.
It will be delivered by Dr Abhi Pal FCGDent, Principal of The University Dental and Implant Centre in Birmingham, editor of the College’s Training Standards in Implant Dentistry, co-editor of its Mentoring in Implant Dentistry: Good Practice Guidelines, and formerly President of the College and member of its Career Pathways Reference Group.
Free to attend for both members and non-members of the College, it is one of four College sessions at the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2025 (BDCDS25), a two-day conference hosting over 200 CPD lectures, 400 exhibitors and 10,000 dental professionals.
College representatives will be available throughout the conference at Stand Q01 to talk to delegates about our vision for the profession, the benefits of membership and fellowship, and to answer questions.
It is not possible to register for specific lectures in advance, but those wishing to attend need to register for BDCDS25 either in advance or on the day. Registration is free for all dental professionals.
Birmingham meet-and-greet
Friday 16 May (9am-5.30pm) & Saturday 17 May 2025 (9am-5pm), Birmingham
Hall 5, National Exhibition Centre, North Ave, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT
The College invites all dental professionals to visit its exhibition stand (Q01) at British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2025
College members and non-members alike are encouraged to come and introduce themselves, to find out more about the College and have their queries answered.
Perhaps you have questions about your membership or how to access your benefits? Or want to know whether you’re eligible for Full Membership, Associate Fellowship or Fellowship? Or you wonder how to download your membership certificate, what Life Fellowship is, or how to add your qualifications to the Member Register?
Maybe you’re a former member of FGDP(UK) uncertain of your College status, or the correct way to present your Faculty post-nominals?
Or perhaps you’re a non-member who’s not yet heard much about the College and just wants to find out why we were set up, what our plans are or how we can help you in your career?
Whatever your query, senior College members and staff will be there throughout the conference to help you out, and we’ll have live access to our systems to help solve membership queries on the spot.
Or even if you don’t have a query, we’d be delighted to meet you!
The College is also an education partner for the Enhanced CPD Theatre, where it is hosting four lectures.
The British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show is the UK’s largest dental event, giving you access to 400 exhibitors and 10,000 fellow dental professionals, and offering 200 lectures across 11 CPD theatres.
It’s FREE to attend for all registered dental professionals – just register via the button below:
New messaging service for members
College members can now contact each other via the new Member Messaging service.
The free service has been developed to enable members to establish or re-establish contact with other members so that they can help, guide and collaborate with each other.
All members of the College can both send and receive messages via the new system, which will also be available to those non-members who join the College’s forthcoming Register of Implant Dentistry Mentors, and will enable College members to contact non-members on that register.
To be able to receive messages, members must opt in within the ‘Preferences’ section of their online account, and must also have not opted out of appearing on the College’s online Member Register. Those admitted to the Register of Implant Dentistry Mentors will be opted in by default. Scroll down for full instructions.
Messages are initiated by clicking the ‘Message’ link on the intended recipient’s individual page on the Member Register. If available, the message link will appear directly underneath the intended recipient’s name near the top of the page, and clicking it will open a new page where a subject line and message can be entered and sent. If the message link does not appear, this means either that the sender has not logged in or that the intended recipient has not opted in to receiving messages.
When a message is sent, the recipient is alerted to it by an email which provides a link to their Member Messaging inbox, where they can read and reply to the message. Their reply is then sent to the original sender’s Member Messaging inbox and likewise triggers email notification.
The system has been designed to keep members’ email addresses confidential, though users are free to share their contact details within correspondence should they wish.
Further information is available on your personal Member Messaging page. Please note this page will only be visible if you are a member of the College, and only when logged in.
How to enable other members to contact you
1. Sign in to your account using the email address you have registered with the College.
If you need to use the ‘Forgot Password’ option, please check your junk/spam folder in case the password reset email is directed there
2. Click Update my account
3. Click Preferences
4. Under Exclude my details from the Register of Members & Fellows, select No
5. Under Allow messaging by other Members & Fellows, select Yes
6. Click Save changes
If ‘Save changes’ cannot be completed, you may first need to complete other fields on the ‘Update my account’ page
