Elections are due to be held for a number of seats on the Council of the College, and all eligible members are invited to consider standing.
As the College embarks on its third full year of operation – summaries of our achievements in our first two years are available here and here – these are exciting times in its development, and this is a fantastic opportunity to get involved and contribute at a national level.
The Council is the voice of our members. It oversees our role as a professional body and guides the Trustee Board on the development of the College to fulfil its mission.
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. A full role description is linked below.
Elections are taking place this year for the following seats:
South and North Wales
North East and North West Thames
South East and South West Thames
Northern Ireland
Time commitment
If successfully elected, you would serve a three-year term, from June 2023 – June 2026, during which you would be expected to attend three Council meetings each year (currently one face-to-face and two online, all typically on a Friday morning), as well as other potential occasional online meetings and committees (normally outside of business hours).
Your first Council meeting would be on Friday 16 June 2023 in London.
You would also be expected to vote, and eligible to stand, in the annual election of two Vice Presidents, and in the triennial election of a College President, and would be encouraged to attend our bi-annual Fellows Receptions and other face-to-face College events.
You would be able to stand for re-election in 2026, and individuals may serve up to three elected terms (i.e. nine years) on the Council.
Eligibility
All Full Members, Associate Fellows and Fellows of the College, regardless of their team role, are eligible to nominate themselves for election providing they meet the criteria for the relevant seat(s):
Candidates for regional seats must live or work within that region, and be registered with that region with CGDent
If you are an Associate Member considering upgrading your membership in order to stand for election, or to vote, or a non-member considering joining, you will need to allow at least two weeks ahead of the relevant date(s) below for this process to complete.
Interested?
All eligible members as of 17 March 2023 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, please complete the nomination process via that link, 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 application, each of whom must themselves be a Full Member, Associate Fellow or Fellow of the College. If you are unsure of the membership status of potential supporters, please consult our Member Register.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF NOMINATIONS IS 23:59 ON SUNDAY 16 APRIL 2023
Key Dates
Nominations close at 23:59 on Sunday 16 April 2023
The deadline for receipt of referee support is 12:00 on Wednesday 19 April 2023
Voting will open during week commencing Monday 24 April 2023
Voting will close on Friday 26 May 2023
Results will be announced on Wednesday 31 May 2023
If you think you might like to put yourself forward as a candidate and wanted further information, 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](please note you would not receive a call back before Monday 3 April 2023).
A map showing the regions covered by the regional seats of the College can be downloaded here. If you are unsure which CGDent region you are in, contact us via [email protected]
The role is voluntary, but we do cover essential expenses.
Technical problems
If you experience technical difficulties submitting your nomination, please contact Mi-Voice by emailing [email protected] or calling 02380 763987.
Dr Louise Belfield AssocFCGDent is the College Council‘s Dental Nursing & Orthodontic Therapy Representativeand Chair of the College’s Research Advisory Panel. The first dental nurse in the UK to achieve a PhD, here she reflects on the key moments, influences and lessons from her career to date.
My career in dentistry started at the age of 17 with an apprenticeship in Dental Technology. I worked as a trainee Dental Technician for 18 months and developed skills in crown and bridge work. During this time, I wondered with increasing frequency about the patients we were making prostheses for and decided to apply for a patient-facing role as a Dental Nurse. I trained in a small mixed NHS and private practice, and in 2003 gained my National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN) Certificate in Dental Nursing. I was fortunate to work with a supportive team, and I was proactively included in continuing professional development (CPD) activities. The critical CPD event that changed the trajectory of my career in dentistry was a session exploring the links between periodontal diseases and systemic conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and how the oral microbiome might connect them. This sparked my curiosity and drive to find answers. What might this mean for our patients? What might we be able to advise if we knew more about it? The only path forward that I could see was to embark on scientific training at university.
The decision to leave my practice and enrol on a university degree was a difficult one because I was very happy where I was, and I enjoyed Dental Nursing. As I had gone straight into apprenticeship after leaving school, I chose a BSc in Human Biosciences university course which included a “Year Zero” to cover the prerequisite scientific knowledge in lieu of traditional A-levels. Throughout the university course I continued practising as a dental nurse, working as bank staff for a local hospital trust. This provided invaluable experience and kept me clinically active in the profession. I worked across a range of settings, including domiciliary care, school visits, emergency clinics, dental access centres, special care dentistry, and even on a mobile dental surgery van. I also worked at an emergency out-of-hours weekend service, and in a private practice which I fitted in around my lectures.
It became apparent to me through the course of my studies that it was the immune system that was the pivotal link between periodontal and systemic diseases, and in the final year of my degree course I focused my studies on the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis, and how it interacts with immune cells. This formed the basis of my further studies leading to a PhD, investigating how these immune cells behave in response to P. gingivalis when they are involved with oral cancer or chronic inflammation. As is often the case at the end of a PhD, there were many new questions formulating and I knew I wanted to continue to investigate these relationships further to answer some of these questions.
Career in dental research and education
At the end of my doctoral studies, an academic position became available and I was appointed as a Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences in 2013. This has enabled me to explore both the scientific and educational facets required in an academic career, and I have been able to establish research in both of these areas. My scientific research focuses on host-pathogen interactions, and I have been fortunate to work on multiple projects, including development of three-dimensional oral mucosa models, association of subgingival lipid A profiles with periodontal disease status,1,2 and in 2019 I received the Colgate Robin Davies Dental Care Professional Research Award from the Oral and Dental Research Trust (ODRT), for a project investigating modulation of osteoclast differentiation and activity by endotoxin tolerance. This Dental Care Professional (DCP) specific award was instrumental in developing an independent research career and I remain grateful to the ODRT for the opportunity.
Subsequently, working together with two colleagues at the University of Plymouth, we established the Oral Microbiome Research Group, where we run clinical and translational research investigating links between human health and disease, and oral bacteria. Two current clinical studies link the oral microbiome with pre-eclampsia, and formation of cerebral abscesses.3 Our research also explores how modifying the oral microbiome can be detrimental to maintaining oral and physiological health mechanisms; a study using chlorhexidine mouthwash to disrupt the normal microbiome found that a decreased diversity of species was associated with a decreased salivary pH buffering capacity, increased lactate and glucose levels, and reduced availability of nitrate and nitrite, with an associated increase in systolic blood pressure.4
Alongside my scientific research, I have also been able to develop scholarly activity, with a focus on inter- and intra-professional education, particularly relating to assessments and standard setting in multi-cohort programmes.5,6 Having come into higher education via a non-standard route, an area I have been particularly keen to invest in is access and participation, and a significant part of my academic role has been to develop a Foundation (Year Zero) entry pathway for the BSc Dental Therapy and Hygiene programme at Peninsula, with the specific focus on Dental Nurses, who make up the majority of our cohort. This Foundation pathway has been running successfully now for three years, and we will welcome our first cohort of BDS year zero students in September 2023, specifically designed to enable fairer access to dental education for local, South West students with non-traditional entry backgrounds.
Engagement with the professional community
I remain actively engaged with the Dental Nursing community through a number of external roles; I uphold my registration with the General Dental Council (GDC), and I am a trustee for the NEBDN, where I also chair the Education Standards Committee. In 2020, I was appointed as a Dental Clinical Fellow with Health Education England, which continues to afford me an insight into NHS dentistry, service commissioning, workforce challenges, DCP skill mix, and training needs, in line with the Dental Education Reform Programme.7 I am also a representative for Dental Nursing on the Council of the College of General Dentistry (CGDent), and with a dedicated and experienced team, we are working to establish the first Faculty of Dental Nursing. I am also grateful to the College for the opportunity to chair the Research Advisory Panel, espousing the message that research is open to all dental professionals.
Key learning points and recommendations
Instrumental in my career have been support and encouragement from those I work with, and seizing opportunities despite the frequent imposter syndrome! While by no means perfect, there tends to be more clarity in the pathway to an academic career for dentists, which is lacking for other dental professionals, which means it can be extra challenging to carve your own route. Promisingly, I come across more and more outstanding DCPs in academic positions and I hope this will continue. This is one of the reasons I am excited about the CGDent Career Pathways in Dentistry: Professional Framework and the establishment of the faculties, and to promote the CGDent vision to make research opportunities accessible for all members of the dental team, to pro-actively support Dental Nurses and all team members to excel in their profession to their fullest potential.
The skills and experience I accrued as a Dental Nurse helped me to progress in other areas, including academia and research; working as a bank dental nurse had its challenges, arriving each morning to a new practice, with different staff, surgery set-ups and protocols was difficult at times, but I learned to be adaptable, and to think on my feet. Communication and team working skills were vital; and I was privileged to work with a variety of patients with their own range of perspectives and experiences and I learned a lot from them. Finally, working in a high-pressure environment, developing effective time management was crucial to being a competent Dental Nurse and these skills have also served me well in academia. I would wholeheartedly encourage anyone with an interest in research or an academic career to pursue that, to reach out to potential mentors or advisors for guidance, and to explore the CGDent Career Pathways frameworks, as well as membership of the College and its Faculties.
References
1. McIlwaine C, Strachan A, Harrington Z, et al. Comparative analysis of total salivary lipopolysaccharide chemical and biological properties with periodontal status. Arch Oral Biol. 2019;110:104633.
2. Strachan A, Harrington Z, McIlwaine C, et al. Subgingival lipid A profile and endotoxin activity in periodontal health and disease. Clin Oral Investig. 2019;23(9):3527-3534.
3. Roy H, Bescos R, McColl E, et al. Oral microbes and the formation of cerebral abscesses: A single-centre retrospective study. J Dent. 2023;128:104366.
4. Bescos R, Ashworth A, Cutler C, et al. Effects of Chlorhexidine mouthwash on the oral microbiome. Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):5254.
5. McIlwaine C, Brookes ZLS, Zahra D, et al. A novel, integrated curriculum for dental hygiene-therapists and dentists. Br Dent J. 2019;226(1):67-72.
6. Zahra D, Belfield L, Bennett J. The benefits of integrating dental and dental therapy and hygiene students in undergraduate curricula. Eur J Dent Educ. 2018;23(1):e12-e16.
This account was first published in the Primary Dental Journal (vol. 12, issue 1, March 2023)
Update (June 2023): Since this article was published, Louise has been appointed Academic Head of Assessment at Brunel University Medical School and has stood down from the College Council to focus on her new role; however she remains on the College’s Research Advisory Panel.
.Janet Clarke MBE FCGDent, Chair of Trustees, reviews the College’s achievements over the last twelve months.
The transfer of FGDP to the College of General Dentistry in July and August of 2021 was not the end of a process, but just the beginning for the new organisation…
The first few months were dominated by the immense task for the small staff team, of building the necessary infrastructure to support our members and embark on the broader mission that we have set for ourselves. That work continued into 2022 – not just in building a College for the future, but re-thinking our role as an independent professional body, in the modern, post-pandemic world.
The most significant keystone for the College’s future will undoubtedly prove to be the Career Pathways that we have been developing in this time, culminating in the publication of the underpinning Professional Framework in June. So why is this quite so significant?
Dentistry, alongside so many other healthcare professions, faces immense challenges in attracting and retaining the talented people that will define the character of the profession for a generation, and inspiring the best from them. Yet dentistry in the UK faces a greater challenge than other healthcare professions, in lacking the structure and support of a national structure for progression, outside the Specialist Dentist pathway. Our Career Pathways provide a concrete, but adaptable framework, across the entire dental team, upon which we and others can now build the opportunities and recognition that dental professionals crave. It starts with College membership: we now have a clear point of reference for defining the ways in which your membership can reflect your capabilities and experience in dentistry.
Early this year (2023) we opened our Certified Membership scheme to a first group of candidates: a modern approach in supporting dental professionals to find their way and build a career in a fast-moving and confusing world. A chance to fully recognise their commitment and capability. It has been gratifying to see the immense level of interest in Certified Membership across so many organisations that are grappling with the workforce challenges we have been working to address, including regulators, policy makers, and dental corporates.
In April 2022, we launched our new Fellowship by experience, bringing new opportunity for highly accomplished dental practitioners, across our community, to be recognised. We have been delighted with the response, with a significant number submitting applications. The eligibility criteria are being further developed to embrace the great diversity of senior professionals. Feedback has been so positive: at last, we are told, their work can be properly acknowledged.
The College aims to build an authoritative community of leadership in dentistry, enabling the professional team to engage constructively with the challenges for all. In January, we hosted our first Fellows’ Winter Reception in Manchester, to complement the Summer Reception which has attracted an impressive group in the past two years. This is an inspiring occasion in itself; but important, too, in our ambitions to attract active support from those with the influence to make a positive difference in dentistry – harnessing their energy in a common cause. In the same vein, we also hosted our first meeting of the 1992 Circle in Manchester: nurturing the community of outstanding dental professionals in retirement, many of whom have so much more to give to support the profession that has been central to their lives. 2022 marked the 30th anniversary of the foundation of FGDP, and the 1992 Circle celebrates that anniversary in its title, providing the opportunity to reflect on all that the Faculty achieved, and inspiring us in our continuing mission today.
CGDent is now the authoritative body for standards in dentistry, building on the highly respected work of FGDP and reflecting our commitment to setting standards, supporting careers. We continue to revise and update our standards to serve the profession, but also to extend into other areas where we see a need to support the profession. In 2022, we published our Implant Dentistry Mentoring Guidelines, and plan to do more in the arena of implant dentistry in 2023.
One of the major areas of interest for FGDP under Ian Mills’ leadership was diversity in the profession, and we have continued that work in CGDent. Most notably, we are pleased to host the Diversity in Dentistry Action Group, previously hosted by the CDO for England. We have hosted a number of important webinars on the subject, all of which are available to members online.
We have continued the FGDP partnership with Dental Protection to offer a significant discount for Full Members, Associate Fellows and Fellows – but now, with our wider remit, we are delighted that Dental Protection have been able to extend their offer to all dental professionals. All our work aims to address the needs of the whole team, and this is a welcome step in line with our overall philosophy and mission.
Twelve months after the opening of the College for business, we were pleased to publish a special issue of the Primary Dental Journal to mark our own special anniversary: a year since the activation of CGDent. The journal continues to thrive, with a number of notable issues in this past year. The number of high-quality articles submitted to the journal has also increased, as illustrated by the special back-to-back “general issues” that were published in 2022.
Your College depends on the support of its members. These are historic times, as we seek to fulfil the long-held ambition in dentistry for our own Royal College, but that goal cannot be achieved without a strong membership. Help us build that support – which translates into a richer offer for all members, greater authority in the profession generally, and ultimately better advocacy for our patients.
Your membership helps to secure our future: we must not let this opportunity pass us by. Do tell friends and colleagues!
Sadly this will be my last blog as I stand down as Chair of Trustees at the end of March. I have very much enjoyed my time as Chair and am incredibly proud of what we have achieved. I am delighted to be handing over the role to Mick Horton, so I know the College’s Trustee Board is in safe hands!
You may be interested in Janet’s blog reviewing the College’s inaugural Annual Members’ Meeting in March 2022…
The College has admitted over 150 dental professionals to date into Associate Fellowship in recognition of their high level of practice.
The membership grade, newly instituted in 2021, acts as a stepping stone to Fellowship. It is open to all dental professionals holding a qualifying award, and applicants do not need to be an existing member of the College to apply.
Qualifying awards include:
FGDP(UK) Diploma in Restorative Dentistry
FGDP(UK) Diploma in Primary Care Oral Surgery
FGDP(UK) or RCS Edinburgh Diploma in Implant Dentistry
Any other Level 7, 120 credit Postgraduate Diploma (or 180 credit Masters-level qualification) in a subject relevant to the enhancement of oral healthcare
Membership in General Dental Surgery (MGDS) of a UK faculty
Specialty membership of a UK faculty
Associate Fellows are entitled to use the post-nominal designation ‘AssocFCGDent’, are eligible to attend the College’s biannual Fellows’ Receptions, and are listed in the College’s online Member Register.
Should Associate Fellows wish to progress, their qualifying award for Associate Fellowship will automatically meet the requirements of the clinical domain of Fellowship – one of five domains, three of which must be satisfied for admittance.
Associate Fellows also have the option to enrol in the College’s Certified Membership programme, an enhanced membership which provides structured support with a trained facilitator to map out the next steps in their career. Those meeting the programme’s requirements over a period of two years would then be recognised as Certified Associate Fellows (AssocFCGDent(Cert.))
The following members have been admitted to Associate Fellowship of the College*:
Amir Hossein Abedi
Dentist, Barrow-in-Furness
Mohanad Abu-Mughaisib
Dentist, Brunei
Graham Richard Adlard
Dentist, Yelverton
Kelvin Ian Afrashtehfar
Dentist, Surrey, British Columbia
Ahmed Shihab Al Mashhadani
Dentist, Riyadh
Nibras Alnaimi
Dentist, Nottingham
Anoushiravan Ariakish
Dentist, London
Nicholas Brian Baker
Dentist, Edinburgh
Caroline Batistoni
Dentist, Tonbridge
Louise Belfield
Dental Nurse, Plymouth
Anuschka Beneke
Dentist, Waterlooville
Sarah Jane Bottomley
Dentist, York
David William Peter Brown
Dentist, Romsey
Darren Bywater
Dentist, Derby
Miguel Lains Cardoso
Dentist, Edinburgh
Kevin Caruana
Dentist, Stockton-on-Tees
Louisa Mary Clarke
Dental Hygienist, London
Melanie Elizabeth Clarkson
Dentist, Stamford
Russell Stephen Colclough
Dentist, Tynemouth
Padraic Conroy
Dentist, Jordanstown
Mario Arvino Joe Correia
Dentist, East Barnet
Orang Dadashian
Dentist, Hayes
Jane Dalgarno
Dental Nurse, Sharnbrook
Brett Davids
Dentist, Nottingham
Natalie Ann Dunn
Dentist, Falmouth
Robert Joseph Eades
Dentist, Tadcaster
Jeremy Jameson Edmondson
Dentist, Ellesmere
Marion Rose English
Dentist, Broxbourne
Ekaterina Fabrikant
Dentist, London
Peter Farrage
Dentist, Eaglescliffe
Timothy Graham Fildes
Dentist, Guernsey
Alexa Caroline Fyfe-Green
Dentist, Bognor Regis
Amanda Zoe Gallie
Dental Therapist, Oakham
Santhira Kumar Ganasan
Dentist, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Affar Ghafoor
Dentist, Stockport
Daniel James Ghent
Dentist, London
Chris Gollings
Dentist, Christchurch
Callum John Graham
Dentist, Larkhall
Anthony James Hands
Dentist, Cullompton
Madalina Harmer
Dentist, Willington
John-Joe Hartigan
Dentist, Belfast
Sami James Hassan
Dentist, London
Hussein Hassanali
Dentist, York
Gareth John Hattersley
Dentist, Preston
Angela Heilmann MBE
Dental Nurse, Bedford
Sarah Suzanne Hill
Dental Hygienist, Stourbridge
Elizabeth Joy Hitchings
Dentist, Wellington, New Zealand
John Alexander Ho-A-Yun
Dentist, Cupar
Frances Hodson
Dentist, Seaton
Zhi Yen Hoe
Dentist, Batu Pahat, Malaysia
James Hudson
Dentist, Huddersfield
John Francis Alexander Hume-Spry
Dentist, Derby
James Robert Robert Hyslop
Dentist, Ormskirk
Charles Olajide Ilesanmi
Dentist, Kaduna, Nigeria
Gaurav Jamnadass
Dentist, Newcastle
Sherley Princess Deborah John
Dentist, Middlesbrough
Simon-Quentin Jones
Dentist, Swansea
Jimmy Kafeero
Dentist, Sittingbourne
Jasvinder Singh Kaila
Dentist, Egham
Priyadarshini Karthikeyan
Dental academic, Chennai
Bashir Haji Kassam
Dentist, Birmingham
Gurpreet Kaur
Dentist, Wellingborough
Graham Roderick Keeling
Dentist, Rottingdean
Patrick Gerard Kilker
Dentist, Sunderland
Stamatios Kioufis
Dentist, Athens
James Kolanko
Dentist, Stafford
Paul James Kolathingal
Dentist, Thrissur, Kerala
Raj Kumar
Dentist, London
Matthew Lamb
Dentist, Alfreton
Caroline Frances Lappin
Dentist, Belfast
Gareth Lavery
Dentist, Kelso
Georgios Lazaridis
Dentist, Trowbridge
Kim B Lee
Dentist, Hong Kong
Stewart Keith Lenton
Dentist, Rugby
Max Leslie
Dentist, Cambridge
William Maguire
Dentist, Belfast
Christopher John Maher
Dentist, Bishop Burton
Amit Maisuria
Dentist, St Albans
Nadim Nadim Majid
Dentist, Blackburn
Usmaan Fazal Majid
Dentist, Dewsbury
Sarah Mapplebeck
Dentist, Ludgershall
Stuart Marshall
Dentist, Adelaide
Dinesh Martin
Dentist, St Augustine, Trinidad
Oskar Mason
Dentist, Aylesbeare
Grainne Josephine McCloskey
Dentist, Crumlin
Laura McClune
Dental Hygienist, Southwater
Andrew David McDonnell
Dentist, Reading
Aine McIver
Dentist, Belfast
Martin McKinstry
Dentist, Kilmacolm
Panagiota Melitou
Dentist, Manchester
Richard Michael
Dentist, Plymouth
Sanjay Miglani
Dental academic, Delhi
Katherine Felicity Mills
Dentist, Benllech
Sharon Alice Johnson Morrow
Dental Nurse, Largs
Gulshan Kumar Murgai
Dentist, Watford
Tan Minh Nguyen
Dental Therapist, Melbourne
Amr Noseir
Dentist, Manchester
Keerut Singh Oberai
Dentist, Egham
Adedeji Daniel Obikoya
Dentist, Athlone
Gemma Joanne O’Callaghan
Dental Hygienist, Southport
Jake O’Connell
Dentist, Sandhurst
Margaret Omoemin Okonkwo
Dentist, Weybridge
Georgina Padgett-Duncan
Dentist, South Cerney
Kapil Paiwal
Dental academic, Kota, Rajasthan
Sonal Pande
Dentist, Horsham
Bhavin Patel
Dentist, Loughton
Vilas Patel
Dentist, Bolton
Anu Anna Paul
Dentist, Kochi, Kerala
Gordon James Penman
Dentist, Kirkcaldy
Helen Peppiatt
Dentist, Norwich
Noel John Perkins
Dentist, Kirkby Lonsdale
Amith Joy Philip
Dentist, Epsom
Richard Pins
Dentist, London
Robert Pittack
Dentist, London
Manju Ponnampalam
Dentist, Canterbury, New South Wales
Colin Alexander Pratt
Dentist, Glasgow
Hong Ping Pua
Dentist, Singapore
Alison Rae
Dentist, King’s Lynn
Savithra Rathinasabapathy
Dentist, Colchester
Paul William Reaney
Dentist, Markethill
Philip John Redfearn
Dentist, Hamilton
Frances Claire Robinson
Dental Hygienist, London
Vaibhav Sahni
Dentist, New Delhi
Irfan Salim
Dentist, Peshawar
Azam Sandhu
Dentist, Bridgetown, Barbados
Hasveer Singh Sangha
Dentist, Coventry
Elizabeth Sebastian
Dentist, Kochi, Kerala
Shaun Sellars
Dentist, Bury Saint Edmunds
Amit Sharma
Dentist, Blandford Forum
Tarik Shembesh
Dentist, London
Richard Skeggs
Dentist, Nottingham
Sami Stagnell
Dentist, Winchester
William John Stanfield
Dental Hygienist, Winsford
Anita Stanforth
Dental Nurse, Gillingham
Thomas William Newell Stapleton
Dentist, York
Miranda Clare Lydia Steeples
Dental Therapist, Pevensey Bay
Carol Subadan
Dentist, Milton Keynes
Katerina Susicki
Dentist, Edinburgh
Anthony Sweeney
Dentist, Beckenham
Stephen Andrew Taylor
Dental Technician, Leyland
Calum Robert Tevendale
Dentist, Glasgow
Heather Jean Anne Topping
Dentist, Lisburn
Priyanka Venkata Vasantavada
Dentist, Middlesbrough
Jacob Verghese
Dentist, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Andrew John Wallace
Dentist, Belfast
Michael White
Dentist, Lindfield
John Willmott
Dentist, Nottingham
Chee-Siang Yie
Dentist, Miri, Malaysia
*as on 8 February 2023
To join the College or upgrade your existing membership, visit our Membership pages
Dr Mick Horton FCGDent, former Dean of the Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP), has been appointed as the next Chair of the College’s Trustee Board.
Dr Mick Horton FCGDent, Trustee of CGDent and former Dean of the FGDP(UK)
Dr Horton qualified from Manchester University in 1986, initially working in Fleetwood, Lancashire. In 1992, he purchased a mixed NHS/private practice in Caergwrle, North Wales, where he worked for the next thirty years.
In 2015, he became the ninth Dean of the FGDP, and the first non-Fellow to have been elected to the post. Under his Deanship, the Faculty initiated the process of separating from the Royal College of Surgeons of England to create an independent college for general dental professionals. He has served as a Trustee of the resulting College of General Dentistry, into which the FGDP transferred in 2021, since completing his three year term as FGDP Dean in 2018.
Dr Horton’s experience also encompasses 22 years as Chair of his Local Dental Committee, ten years as Vice Chair of his local Health Board, 20 years as a postgraduate CPD tutor, working as a dental nurse examiner and being a member of the Welsh Dental Committee as well as Managed Clinical Networks. His professional interests include patient safety, human factors, risk management, mentoring and quality improvement, and he continues to serve on national policy groups in these areas.
During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, he chaired the joint FGDP-CGDent working group which developed Implications of COVID-19 for the safe management of general dental practice, guidance which the organisations published a week ahead of the re-opening of dental practices in England, at a time when no official guidance for re-opening was available, and which was downloaded over 50,000 times in that week alone.
In taking up post as Chair in April 2023, he will succeed Dr Janet Clarke MBE, former Deputy Chief Dental Officer for England, who joined the Board of Trustees in 2019 and became Chair in 2020. During her tenure, the College has formally launched, successfully incorporated the membership and intellectual assets of the FGDP, opened up Full Membership and Fellowship to all suitably qualified registered dental professionals, opened its ‘by experience’ route to Fellowship, created the new grade of Associate Fellowship, published its Professional Framework for career pathways in dentistry and launched its Certified Membership scheme.
Outgoing Chair, Janet Clarke, said:
“It has been a great privilege to lead the College of General Dentistry over the last few years, during which it has been established and, building on the legacy of the FGDP, begun its vital work of creating an independent organisation built by, and specifically for, general dental professionals. I am proud to be handing over the reins to Mick, who is a highly experienced, respected and forward-thinking general dental practitioner with an unsurpassed knowledge of, and dedication to, the College and its mission.“
Commenting on his appointment, Dr Horton said:
“Having been passionate about the College of General Dentistry since its inception, it is a joy to look back and see that such considerable progress has been made, in a short period of time, in establishing the College and pursuing its mission. It has been a great pleasure to work with Janet on the Trustee Board, and I would like to thank her for her leadership and commitment in driving our progress, and congratulate her on all that has been achieved. I am honoured to have now been given the responsibility of steering the College through its next phase, as we develop and implement new ways of supporting the profession to enjoy fulfilling careers in general dentistry, with structured progression. We can only do this with the support of the profession, so I call on all colleagues to play their part at this historic moment by joining us in membership.”
Dr Shelagh Farrell FCGDent, a College Founder and Ambassador, talks to Professor Nairn Wilson FCGDent, President Emeritus of the College, about leaving a legacy to CGDent.
Nairn: Shelagh, may I begin by thanking you on behalf of the College for your tremendous support for the College as a Founder, one of its first Fellows, Ambassador and now one of its first legators. Such exceptional support is hugely appreciated and of immense importance to the College as it grows and develops. Also, thank you for agreeing to answer the following questions:
Why have you considered it important to support the College with both a Founder’s donation and a legacy?
Shelagh: The Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP(UK)), from the time of its foundation in 1992, always had the ambition of forming a College – Royal College of Dentistry. At the time, we promised the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS Eng) that the Faculty would remain part of the College for 10 years, filling a void left by the Faculty of Anaesthetists which had separated away to form what became the Royal College of Anaesthetists within a matter of a few years. Despite attempts to leave after 10 years, FGDP(UK) remained part of RCS Eng for 28 years.
The income of most, if not all, Royal Colleges comes from its members who pay subscriptions and fees to sit their examinations and benefit from postgraduate qualifications. Over the years, FGDP(UK) changed its qualifications to reflect the ways in which dentistry had moved on; for example, with the increasing use of implants. It is time to change again to create career pathways for all members of the dental team, which are challenging but achievable, thus enhancing standards in the provision of dental care.
When FGDP(UK) was established, it had one office on the ground floor of the RCS Eng. In a short space of time, it was obvious that more staff were needed to support and promote the Faculty’s activities and examination system. The Faculty was then allocated a redundant animal house on the top floor of the RCS Eng building. This became the Faculty offices for the remainder of its time at the RCS Eng.
The new College needs to acquire suitable premises in the process of becoming the Royal College of General Dentistry. This requires money and that is why, besides giving a Founder’s donation, I have left the College a legacy in my will.
N:What would you like to say to colleagues who have not yet joined and donated to the College?
S: Some colleagues say that they will join the College when it receives Royal status. This, however, creates a “catch 22” situation. Unless the College expands its now growing number of Full Members, Associate Fellows and Fellows, it is unlikely to receive Royal status. Hence, I would urge colleagues of all ages, specifically younger colleagues to join, support the College and, in the process, benefit from a worthwhile career pathway, with mentoring, which will add to their enjoyment of dentistry and enhance their professional fulfilment.
N: In what ways has dentistry in the UK been compromised by not having its own, independent Royal College?
S: The UK has three Royal Surgical Colleges based in London, Edinburgh and Glasgow, all with Faculties of Dental Surgery. Over the years there has been great competition between these Faculties to promote themselves and increase their influence and income both home and abroad. But more important is the opportunity they have to advise and influence (or not) governments, albeit that general dentistry, let alone members of the dental team are not well, if at all, represented in their memberships. Governments listen to Royal Colleges. When the College of General Dentistry becomes the Royal College of General Dentistry, dentistry will at long last have its own independent, UK-wide, collegiate influence, speaking for the whole of the profession. Dentistry, specifically general dental practice, which provides more than 90% of oral healthcare, certainly needs this, as it seems to me at the moment that this core provision of dental services is at the lowest ebb that I have seen over the last 50 years.
N: Shelagh, two more questions. Firstly, what do you see to be the immediate priorities of the College?
S: Recruitment is clearly the way to increase the membership and the influence of the College. Dentistry is the only major healthcare profession which has not got its own Royal College. The majority of dentists are in practice, even if they are specialists. All these dentists, together with the members of their dental teams, need to come together to strengthen their unified voice, to improve standards, and to enhance the care provided to the general public.
N: And finally, what would you like the College to achieve by 2030?
S: I would like to see the College granted Royal status, with the majority of the profession being part of the membership, reaping and continuously improving the benefits the College can provide, enhancing their enjoyment and fulfilment in the wonderful and great career that dentistry can bring. I also hope that the College, then Royal College, will have suitable premises where members, politicians, the media, members of the general public and others can contact and meet staff to enable the College to realise its potential as the much-needed collegiate home for general dentistry.
N: Shelagh, very many thanks for your insightful and thought-provoking answers to my questions. Hopefully, this interview will encourage others to follow your lead as an inspirational Fellow and legator.
With renewed thanks for your exceptional generosity to the College.
Any member wishing to make a legacy to the College is encouraged to contact Abhi Pal, President of the College, or Simon Thornton-Wood, Chief Executive of the College, at [email protected] or Nairn Wilson, President Emeritus, at [email protected].
The College has announced the appointment of Kevin Lewis FCGDent as an Ambassador.
College Ambassadors, drawn from a variety of backgrounds, provide strong advocacy for the mission and vision of the College as it works towards eligibility for the award of a Royal Charter.
Following a number of years in general dental practice, Dr Lewis spent 27 years at Dental Protection, including as Dental Director between 1998 and 2016, and served on the Council and Executive of the Medical Protection Society. He is Consultant Editor of Dentistry and a Special Consultant to BDA Indemnity. He recently demitted office after five years as a Trustee of the College and founder member of its predecessor Transition Board. He has been awarded Honorary Membership of the British, Irish and New Zealand Dental Associations, and of the British Society for Restorative Dentistry, and is a Fellow of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Dr Lewis’s appointment enriches the already considerable expertise and scope of influence of the College’s team of Ambassadors:
Dr Eugene Chan SBS BBS JP FCGDent, Visiting Professor at Jinan University, Guangzhou
Professor Jonathan Cowpe FCGDent, former Director of Postgraduate Dental Education in Wales
Dr Shelagh Farrell FCGDent, Founder Member of the Faculty of General Dental Practice UK
Dr Marina Harris, Senior Lecturer and Periodontology Lead, University of Portsmouth Dental Academy
Professor Jacky Hayden CBE, President, Academy of Medical Educators
Professor Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief, The Lancet
Dame Parveen Kumar DBE, Emeritus Professor of Medicine and Education, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London
Professor Jason Leitch CBE FFGDP(UK)(Hon.), National Clinical Director, Scottish Government
Dr Ian Mills FCGDent, Founder and former Trustee of the College, and former Dean of the FGDP
Dr Govin Murugachandran, Founder, Flynotes
Dr Yewande Oduwole, Associate Dentist
Marie Parker, Deputy Programme Director of Hygiene and Therapy at University College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London
Rt Hon Sir Mike Penning, Member of Parliament
Dr Wendy Thompson FCGDent, Lecturer in Primary Dental Care, University of Manchester
Dr Pouya Zohrabpour, Associate Dentist
Commenting on the appointment, Dr Abhi Pal FCGDent, President of the College, said:
“I would like to extend my congratulations to Kevin on his appointment as an Ambassador of the College, which follows a period of time in which he has been a valued Trustee. The College is privileged to have such a distinguished member of our profession supporting our cause, and I am delighted that we will continue to benefit from his wide experience and enthusiasm.”
Kevin Lewis said:
“It has been a real privilege to have spent the past five years as a Trustee and Board member of the College, from its inception through to launch as an autonomous, independent collegiate home for all members of the dental team working in general dental practice. In time it will hopefully blossom into the Royal College that dentistry and general dental practice so richly deserve. In the meantime, I am delighted to continue my association with the College in the capacity of an Ambassador, and would urge any colleague involved in general dental practice to join CGDent and support it on this historic journey.”
The College is establishing the ‘1992 Circle’ as a social forum for retired Fellows.
The new group is named in honour of the year the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners was founded, a key moment which brought together the members of the College of General Dental Practitioners (UK) and of the former RCS Advisory Board in General Dental Practice, with the shared ambition to create an independent College over time.
Thirty years on, the 1992 Circle aims to bring together, and recognise, those whose vision put the general dental profession in the UK on a journey towards independent collegiate status, and those whose ongoing commitment carried this through to the establishment of the College of General Dentistry. The group will gather periodically for social events, typically linked to the College’s main activities.
An inaugural gathering will take place at 4pm on Wednesday 18 January 2023 at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, 84 Plymouth Grove, Manchester M13 9LW. In addition to retired current and former Fellows of the College, all those who are retired from practice and are a past Fellow of the FGDP(UK) are eligible to attend and encouraged to make themselves known to the College. Readers are also encouraged to get in touch with retired Faculty Fellows with whom they are acquainted to make them aware of the new group.
There is no charge to become a member of the 1992 Circle or to attend the inaugural gathering. Eligible individuals wishing to attend should email [email protected], using the subject line ‘1992 Circle’.
Attendees at the 1992 Circle gathering who are members of the College are also invited to join theCGDent Fellows Winter Reception, which is taking place a short walk away later the same evening.
It has long been a vision for the College to form distinct Faculties for the different professions within the dental team. Faculty Chairs, Louise Belfield, Bill Sharpling and John Stanfield, update us on the progress they have made so far.
Louise BelfieldBill SharplingJohn Stanfield
Louise Belfield, Chair of the Faculty of Dental Nursing & Orthodontic Therapy
I am delighted to announce the formation of the inaugural board for the Faculty of Dental Nursing and Orthodontic Therapy. Combined, Dental Nurses plus Orthodontic Therapists make up around 50% of the dental workforce, and it is our privilege to represent our registrant communities at the College of General Dentistry.
Our Board brings together a wealth of knowledge and expertise, along with a broad range of experience in general dental practice and beyond, including practice management, NHS and private practice, civilian and military, workforce, postgraduate education, academia, and research, as well as representation from the United Kingdom nations.
Our Board members are:
Louise Belfield (Chair and member of the College Council)
Debbie Reed (Vice-Chair)
Jane Dalgarno
Angie Heilmann
Amanda Knight
Kathryn Marshall
Sharon Morrow
All of our Board members are passionate volunteers, dedicated to the advancement of career opportunities, recognition of achievement, and parity of esteem for our Dental Nurses and Orthodontic Therapists.
Developing our new Faculty board presents some unique challenges, and with those come unique opportunities. Perhaps more than other registrant categories, Dental Nurse training is varied and diverse; there are multiple qualifications that can lead to GDC registration, and they are typically delivered outside of Higher Education Institutions, which can funnel graduates into well-established career pipelines. Combined with the lack of an obvious direction for career development once qualified, these factors can make the waters of career advancement rather muddy. Therefore, a key objective for our inaugural Faculty board is to implement the newly developed Career Pathways framework, led by our Vice-Chair Debbie Reed.
We have also prioritised development of the Faculty membership pathways for Dental Nurses and Orthodontic Therapists. Our newly developing Faculty membership criteria uphold the highest clinical standards and are relevant and accessible to our community of professionals. It is also important to note that for the first time, all levels of membership and fellowship of the College are open to all dental professionals, and we encourage our eligible members to consider application. Our Career Pathways framework can support our members to meet the different levels of Faculty and College criteria.
However, our Faculty is only as strong as its membership. It is imperative that we work together with our members at all stages of their careers, including trainees and newly qualified members, to develop the Faculty in a direction that serves our community. We are determined that both registrant categories within the Faculty have equivalent voice, and as such we are especially keen to engage with our community of Orthodontic Therapists. We know that amongst our Dental Nurses and Orthodontic Therapists there are many experienced, talented, highly achieving professionals who have made significant impact on patient and public health, and the dental profession. Our ultimate aim as a board is to provide means to fully recognise those contributions, in parity with other registrant categories, and to provide support and guidance for our members to realise their career ambitions to their fullest potential.
Louise Belfield AssocFCGDent is a dental nurse, research scientist, lecturer, Health Education England Dental Clinical Fellow, and National Examination Board for Dental Nurses Trustee. Louise is a member of the College Council, the Professional Affairs Committee and the Membership Admissions Panel.
Bill Sharpling, Chair of the Faculty of Clinical Dental Technology & Dental Technology
It has been a pleasure to be involved in the College of General Dentistry since its very early days, after registering as a supporter in 2018. In 2020, I was invited to join the College Advisory Strategy Group and I built a team of Clinical Dental Technicians (CDTs) and Dental Technicians (DTs) who were keen to work together for the greater good of the College and the profession. I Chair the CDT and DT Working Group that has contributed to the development of the Career Pathway and Professional Framework and am a member of the College Council.
As soon as the opportunity arose to progress the creation of the four College Faculties, work began on assembling what would become the Board of our own Faculty, the Faculty of Clinical Dental Technology and Dental Technology (FCDTDT). It is worth noting that the actual final title of the Faculty is still under discussion by the Board and has not yet been finalised.
The Faculty Board members are:
Bill Sharpling (Chair and member of the College Council)
Steve Taylor (Vice Chair)
Mike Brindle
Lee Butler
Tony Laurie
Jiri Matl
Caroline Persaud
Emily Pittard
David Reay
The Board are a great bunch with a real mix of experience and huge amounts of enthusiasm to see real progression for our CDT and DT professions. Each member has shown such dedication to their role and have all taken on specific positions to enable progress. With such a small group it is not possible to replicate the structure and member roles of the full College Council but we have hopefully been able to cover most elements with this select group.
Each of the devolved nations has representation should it be needed. Mike, Jiri and Caroline have made themselves available to consider issues relating to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively. Tony and Steve are overseeing the faculty’s CPD activities and Emily is the Early Careers representative. Membership admissions will be managed by Lee and David with Caroline and Mike having the extra responsibility for Career Pathways activity.
The Board has met a couple of times and is scheduled to meet at least three times each year just ahead of Council meetings. Each meeting will have a principal theme. So far, the schedule has included CPD, membership levels and Career Pathway work. During the CPD meeting, Board members were joined by Robert Dyas from ProDental CPD and good progress was made regarding arranging a CPD programme for both DTs and CDTs.
DTs and CDTs are encouraged to join CGDent and once they have done so, will automatically also become a member of the Faculty. Members will be able to apply to join the Faculty at a certain level which is dependent on qualifications and/or experience. The level that one can join then determines the post nominals that a Faculty member is entitled to use. Members will also be able to join a Certified Membership Scheme which will enable them to be supported and mentored at the same time as progressing through the Career Pathway, mapped against certain criteria.
These are very early days for the Faculty, but with the continued support from the Board and the guidance and direction from the College, progress will continue to be made and the profession will see significant benefits for the long term.
Bill Sharpling FCGDent is Associate Dean (CPD) and Director of the London Dental Education Centre (LonDEC) at the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London and Honorary Professor at RAK College of Dental Sciences, UAE. Bill is a member of the College Council and the Careers and Training Committee.
John Stanfield, Chair of the Faculty of Dental Hygiene & Dental Therapy
Throughout the formation of the College of General Dentistry, the creation of Faculties supporting each of the dental team groups, with membership levels that are attained by progression through the Career Pathway, has been a key vision.
The work that has been ongoing in a multi-threaded stream, has now allowed us to start to form the faculties. To this end, we have appointed an inaugural board to the Faculty of Dental Hygiene & Dental Therapy which will guide the Faculty until we have enough members to have elections.
The Board members are:
John Stanfield (Chair and member of the College Council)
Frances Robinson (Vice Chair)
Sarah Hill
Laura McClune
Sarah Murray
Fiona Sandom
Miranda Steeples
Deborah Stratford
Kirstie Thwaites
The Board, as you can see, brings together a huge amount of experience and qualifications to lead us forward in this historic and bold move for the profession. Our tasks, as we go forward, enthuse each of us, knowing this can only improve our standing both within the dental profession and that of the general public.
Our Faculty has to grow, we require members to become part of our community, to set and raise standards, and to have input into how the Faculty and the College are run. We have our voice on the College Council, with full voting rights, this task has been appointed to me until we vote for a chair of the Faculty who will then join the Council.
Previously I had been involved with FGDP, both as a member and vice-chair of the DCP committee and as the editor of ‘Team in Practice’. However, we couldn’t be full Members, nor did we have any voting rights. I took on this role to support the vision of a College that would represent the whole dental team with an opportunity for all to be full Members. We all have the same chance to be admitted to the community as Members, Associate Fellows and Fellows of the Faculty and the College. Many have already been admitted as Associate Fellows of the College and we have just had our first Faculty member admitted as a Fellow of the College – my congratulations go to Fiona Sandom.
Currently, the Board is working on adapting the Career Pathways in Dentistry Professional Framework to meet the needs of our constituents, mapping this against the expected career stages.
The Faculty will be expected to contribute to College publications, standards and guidance, to any of the press releases which involve our members and to this end we will be bringing on board those of you with particular experience and expertise. We are very aware of the increasing academic achievements of our constituents and the research they are carrying out and want to make the most of this.
Joining the faculty and the college brings with it certain benefits:
Recognition of postgraduate training and experience, your pathway from Safe Practitioner to Accomplished Practitioner
CPD via ProDental CPD (over 1000 hours)
Primary Dental Journal
Certified Membership Scheme
Belonging to a community of like-minded professionals
John Stanfield AssocFCGDent has over 40 years’ experience as a dental hygienist, and works in private dental practice in Cheshire. He was Editor of the FGDP’s Team in Practice journal and Vice-Chair of its DCP Committee, and now serves on the College’s Membership Affairs Committee. John is also a member of the College Council.
Help us in our historic mission to build a future Royal College for dentistry
Closing date extended to Friday 7 October 2022 in response to feedback from members.
A Trustee is being sought for the College of General Dentistry, as we bring the dental team together, to advance oral healthcare in the UK and beyond.
Our mission has never appeared so critical. At a time when dentistry faces immense challenges, we are developing a vital role. We are building a strong and trusted professional community of practice, serving patients and public. Our ground-breaking career pathways and Certified Membership provide new support needed by all dental professionals, and our Guidance and Standards underpin high quality in the practice of dentistry in every part of the country.
We aim to pursue a Royal Charter, elevating the standing of general dentistry alongside its medical professional peers. Dentistry deserves that recognition.
So this is an exciting time to join the Trustee Board of the College. You will help us to establish and shape the development of the College – after one year of operation – reflecting the interests of a diverse and dynamic profession. This is a significant role at a critical moment in our own development, and for the wider profession.
We have a vacancy for a dental professional to contribute as a Trustee to the development of the values of the organisation, demonstrating high standards of behaviour and attitude, reflecting the inclusive professionalism that we seek to embody and our status as a Registered Charity. You will be expected to contribute to effective custodianship of the organisation, with a thorough appreciation of the role of a Trustee.
The Trustee Board, chaired by Dr Janet Clarke FCGDent, works alongside the elected Council of the College, which oversees the professional affairs of the organisation and is chaired by the President of the College, Dr Abhi Pal FCGDent.
You will have an appreciation of business imperatives that underpin a growing organisation, reconciling financial viability with delivery of our overall mission in the patient and public interest. A particular interest in, and understanding of issues related to the professional indemnity of dental practitioners would be an advantage, as they affect the work of the College.
We are particularly interested in attracting people who can help us to engage widely across the dental team, as we seek to reflect their wide range of backgrounds and aspirations. The proportion of women and dental professionals from different backgrounds on the Register is growing, and we want our Trustee Board to be truly inclusive and reflective of our community.
Applications (by CV and covering letter, which should address the requirements described in the role profile, citing two references) must be received by 7 October 2022, addressed to [email protected]. Prospective candidates are advised that interviews are planned to be held in mid October in London. To be eligible, you must be a Full Member, Associate Fellow or Fellow of CGDent at the time of appointment.
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