Head of Dental Division

Stephen Henderson has been appointed Head of Dental Division of The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS). Stephen, a Specialist in Oral Surgery, has been with MDDUS as a Dento-Legal Adviser since February 2018, having worked in the professional indemnity industry for almost 20 years prior to that.

New Vice Deans

Susan Nelson and Onkar Dhanoya have been inaugurated as the new Vice Deans of the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) (FGDP[UK]).

Susan is Lead Dentist at Shore Road Dental & Implant Clinic in County Down. Onkar has been Principal Dentist at Honour Health in the North East of England since 1986.

Deputy Chief Dental Officer

NHS England, NHS Improvement and the Chief Dental Officer for England have announced the appointment of Jason Wong MBE as Deputy Chief Dental Officer for England. Jason is a GDP and partner at Maltings Dental Practice in Grantham and was awarded an MBE for services to Dentistry and Oral Health this year.

The role will be shared with Deputy Chief Dental Officer Eric Rooney MBE.

Dean of the Faculty

Mr Matthew Garrett has taken office as the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England's new Dean. He was elected to the role by the Faculty's Board in October, and will serve a three-year term to 2023. Matthew is a consultant in restorative dentistry at the Eastman Dental Hospital and most recently served as the Faculty's Senior Vice Dean.

Fellowship Awards 2020

The FGDP(UK) has conferred Fellowships on ten individuals in recognition of their exceptional professional achievements.

Honorary Fellowship - bestowed on those who have made an exceptional contribution to the profession

Professor Jeremy Bagg OBE

Fellowship by election - in recognition of individuals' exceptional career records and active support of the Faculty and its mission

Gerry Boyle, Janet Clarke MBE, Paul Cooner, Matthew Garrett, Davinderpal Kooner, Patricia Marsden, Kenneth McDonald

Diploma of Fellowship - recognising the diversity of an individual's expertise and their achievements in delivering excellence in primary dental care

Mark Doyle, Shamir Mehta

First Ambassadors

The College of General Dentistry (the first independent college for primary care dentistry in the UK) has appointed its first Ambassadors: the Rt Hon Sir Mike Penning MP, Professor Dame Parveen Kumar and Dr Shelagh Farrell FFGDP(UK). College Ambassadors will support engagement of the College in Society, and promote its influence in the interests of patients, building trust and confidence in the dental profession.