College of General Dentistry announces new ambassadors
National Clinical Director and Medical Educators' President appointed
The College of General Dentistry announced the further development of its ‘College Ambassadors’ scheme with the appointment of two new ambassadors; Professor Jason Leitch CBE and Professor Jacky Hayden CBE.
Professor Nairn Wilson, Chair of the College Board of Trustees, said: “Both have a wealth of experience and expertise. The College greatly looks forward to working with its new ambassadors in realising its immediate and longer-term goals, including reaching out to all stakeholders, including patients and other healthcare professions, to enhance the effectiveness, standing and status of dentistry.”
College ambassadors are drawn from different backgrounds and walks of life. They support engagement of the College in society, and promote its influence in the interests of patients, building trust and confidence in the College and dental healthcare professionals.
Ambassadors help the College ensure dentistry is properly recognised for its importance as an integral element of general healthcare and wellbeing. They support the College’s mission to promote preventatively orientated, minimum interventive, patient-centred, longitudinal care. More ambassadors will be appointed in the coming months as the College works towards its historic, formal launch, rescheduled for early 2021, COVID restrictions permitting.
Commenting on his appointment Jason Leitch said: “It is a huge honour to be invited to be an Ambassador for the College of General Dentistry. As National Clinical Director of the Scottish Government, the advancement of quality in all areas of healthcare is close to my heart. It is an exciting time for dentistry, and I am delighted to contribute to the initiative to form the College.”
Jacky Hayden is President of the Academy of Medical Educators, a Non-Executive Director and Senior Independent Director at University Hospitals Plymouth, a member of the Medical Tribunal Service Committee and the Suitable Person for the MPTS. She is also an Associate for the General Medical Council and has led quality assurance visits to most parts of the United Kingdom.
She said: “I am honoured to accept the invitation to be an ambassador for the College of General Dentistry. General Dentistry has led the way in postgraduate dental education, and it is a tribute to all involved that the aspiration for an independent College is now being realised. Our health care system needs generalists and the special skills that they bring in promoting good health and preventing disease.”
Meanwhile, Russ Ladwa, who has held many of the leading roles in UK dentistry, has taken office as the 134th President of the British Dental Association, and Eddie Crouch, who qualified in 1984 from King’s and currently provides orthodontic care for patients in South Birmingham, has been elected as the new chair of the BDA’ Principal Executive Committee.
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