Article
Welcome to Fiona Sandom PhD, MSc, FCGDent, Dip DT, Dip DH
I am delighted to welcome Fiona, a dental therapist based in North Wales, to the Editorial Board of Dental Update as the first dental therapist to join us. Fiona graduated as a dental therapist from the University of Liverpool in 1999, having been a dental hygienist since 1993: she has a wealth of experience in dental practice, where she presently works part-time in a busy NHS practice in Bangor, North Wales, using her full scope of practice. Alongside that, she achieved a master's degree in Medical Education at Cardiff University in 2013, and, last year, completed her PhD at Bangor University. She became a Fellow of the College of General Dentistry in 2022. Among her many positions, Fiona was dental hygienist and dental therapist tutor for North Wales for 15 years until 2019, and, most recently she became a lecturer at Bangor University. She was President of the British Association of Dental Therapists from 2014 to 2016, with the aim of the Society being to represent the interests of dental therapists at a national level and promote dental therapy to the profession. Outside her busy life in dental therapy, Fiona completed a half Ironman Triathlon in Stafford in 2016 and in Venice in 2021, and the full Ironman event in September 2017!
I am therefore delighted that Fiona has joined us as I am certain that her experience and knowledge as a dental therapist, as outlined above, will bring an innovative slant to the Board, and complement the knowledge, wisdom and expertise already present in the Editorial Board of Dental Update.
University wins Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community category at Times Higher Education Awards 2023
The University of Plymouth's work to combine first-rate dental training with outstanding community care has been rewarded at the Times Higher Education Awards 2023. In that regard, the pioneering work of the Peninsula Dental School and the Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise won the Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community category at the awards ceremony in Liverpool. It is recognition of the efforts of more than 100 staff and 400 students working and studying with the University, and in communities across Devon and Cornwall.
Professor Ewen McColl, Head of the Peninsula Dental School and member of the Editorial Board of Dental Update said:
‘This award is a fantastic achievement for everyone connected with University of Plymouth, Peninsula Dental School and Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise. To have our work recognized at a national level is further evidence that our approach is delivering positive change across our community. It is the result of an amazing team effort that continues to benefit our students and staff, and the people of Devon and Cornwall.’
The Peninsula Dental School was originally established to tackle oral health inequalities in the south-west, while training future dentists and dental therapists. In 2013, it also established the Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise (PDSE) to treat patients who may not otherwise have access to care. In 2021–2022, the period covered by the awards, students registered with the Peninsula Dental School – and working at clinics run by PDSE – saw almost 5600 patients across Devon and Cornwall. In that regard, over the course of 28,000 appointments, 418 dental and dental therapy students were able to deliver crucial primary care to many of the more vulnerable members of society, including those experiencing homelessness and other forms of social exclusion. And, of the 1748 patients who left feedback during 2021–2022, 97% said they would recommend the services to their own friends and family.
The Editorial Board and all the team at Dental Update congratulate Professor McColl and his team on this award.