
A Place to Call Home: Rescue or Repair
Thursday 10th November 2022
London Marriott Hotel, Kensington

I am GDP who has worked in a practice in Fife for over 25 years. I developed an interest in the delivery of postgraduate dental education initially through my role as a vocational trainer then later as a VT Adviser within NES. In 2018 I joined Scottish Government on secondment as a Senior Dental Officer within the CDO team. This role has expanded, and along with two colleagues I now work as Deputy Chief Dental Officer on a part time basis. I continue to maintain my role as VT Adviser alongside an ongoing part time commitment as a GDP in practice.
Rebecca is Deputy Chief Dental Officer for England and Professor of Oral Health Services Research in the Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool. She has had a mixed academic and NHS career which has included roles as Clinical Director of Salaried Dental Services in South Glamorgan. More recently she has carried non-dental University senior leadership roles as Head of Department of Health Services Research and Dean of the Institute of Population Health Sciences. Her dental professional roles have included being a Past President of the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry, Oral Health Topic expert for NICE committees and Specialist Advisor to the House of Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee inquiry into dentistry in 2019.
She has an extensive research portfolio including as Chief Investigator of several NIHR grants including a current NIHR Programme Grant on reducing inequalities in the use of routine dental services https://www.returnproject.co.uk/. Her research is recognised as world leading with the award of International Association for Dental Research (IADR) Distinguished Scientist Award for Behavioural, Epidemiologic and Health Services Research in 2020, and the IADR Giddon Award for Distinguished Research in the Behavioural Sciences in 2014.
Because of her research background in NHS dental contracting, Rebecca was involved in a Department of Health Evidence and Learning group during the pre-prototype phase of pilot dental contract evaluation. She is currently providing clinical leadership to the Dental System Reform programme in England in her capacity as Deputy Chief Dental Officer.
Peter Robinson graduated in 1981. After junior hospital jobs he set up dedicated dental services for people with HIV/AIDS. That work led to his Masters in Dental Public Health and a PhD in Epidemiology and Statistics. He moved on to become a Senior Lecturer and King’s Dental Institute and took up a Chair in Sheffield in 2002. He was Head of Bristol Dental School from 2016 to 2020 and retired in 2021. His research interests included the evaluation of oral health care and the effect of the mouth on peoples’ everyday lives. He became Editor of Community Dental Health in 2017.
Maggie Rae is President of the Faculty of Public Health. She has particular interests in health inequalities, sustainable development, workforce, education and standards setting for Public Health. She is Head of the South West Academy of Population and Public Health for Health Education England and leads the South West Specialist Public Health Training Programme.
Maggie is a Visiting Professor of Public Health at the University of the West of England and the University of Exeter, has been a Director of Public Health twice, and has also led on Health Inequalities and Local Delivery at the Department of Health.
As President she works closely with the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges, Local Government Association and a wide range of partners who have interests in Public Health. Maggie is committed to working with all 4 Nations of the UK and FPH members across the world.
Rachel graduated as a Dentist from the Institute of Dentistry Aberdeen, with a first for highest clinical proficiency. Rachel currently works within the North of Scotland and remains passionate about pursuing post-graduate education within the field of prosthodontics. In addition to her clinical commitment and studies, Rachel has been teaching since 2010, delivering courses on dental photography for NES and a clinical tutor on the BSc Oral Health Science course (UHI). Rachel is also a qualified Medical Illustrator/photographer and member of the Institute of Medical Illustrators and seeks to amalgamate art practice with science learning within many aspects of her professional career.
As an artist Rachel incorporates classical drawing principles, realism, and the beauty of the renaissance period, repackaged with a contemporary scientific edge. In 2020 Rachel was commissioned to illustrate cover series 229 for the British Dental Journal.
Today Rachel continues her research within the subject area, ‘Teaching methods that facilitate the craftmanship of dentistry’. Rachel currently offers public engagement activities that teach the traditional skills of the medical artist in collaboration with Surgeons Hall Edinburgh and promotes dental health awareness whilst aiming to improve the patient-professional relationship through creative practice. Rachel will be exhibiting her work and presenting her thoughts on using art in dental education where the by-product offers unique public engagement opportunities that incorporate dental public health messages.
Simon’s background is general dental practice in a deprived area with a keen interest in prevention and skill mix delivery of care. He has chaired the local dental network in North Yorkshire & Humber for seven years where he has worked with stakeholders to embed prevention across programmes co-developed with stakeholders.
Simon is the coordinator of the National Community Water Fluoridation Network which works with partners including BASCD to raise the profile of any to lobby for the public health programme where appropriate.
Albert Yeung is Consultant in Dental Public Health at NHS Lanarkshire in Scotland. He is an Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer of the University of Glasgow. He is a Professional Adviser to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman. He is the only dentist being appointed to be a specialist assessor for the UK Public Health Register.
Originally from Hong Kong, Albert studied dentistry in Glasgow. He has a diverse background of working experience in dentistry in the UK, including general dental practice, hospitals, community dental service and teaching in dental schools.
He is co-editor of the Oxford Dictionary of Dentistry (Second Edition). He is an examiner for General Dental Council’s Overseas Registration Examination, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, and Royal College of Surgeons of England. He is also a Board member of Faculty of Dentistry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
Albert and his team have won a number of national or international awards, including:
• Overall Team of the Year (The Probe Dental Award 2008);
• Roger Anderson Poster Prize (BASCD 2008);
• Patron’s Prize (National Oral Health Promotion Group 2009 & 2015);
• Keith Woods Memorial Prize for Epidemiology (BASCD 2011);
• Team of the Year (North) Award (The Probe Dental Award 2012);
• Finalist of Dental Team Award (Scottish Dental Awards 2014);
• Winner of the RCPSG Ben Walton Development and Scholarship Grant (2018).
Albert served on the BASCD Council as BASCD Treasurer from 2014 to 2017. He took over the role of BASCD President in June 2022.
Enver joined the Refugee Council as Chief Executive in December 2020, following nearly three years as CEO of Just for Kids Law, a charity providing youth support and legal representation to children and young people facing adversity.
He holds a wealth of experience in the charitable sector, including senior roles at the National Children’s Bureau, The Children’s Society, Barnardo’s, the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies and the Prison Reform Trust. Prior to working in the voluntary sector he was a BBC journalist for ten years.
Enver has been on advisory boards for the Department of Education, HM Inspector of Prisons and the Office of the Children’s Commissioner as well as chairing a number of cross sector coalitions including the End Child Poverty Campaign and the Standing Committee for Youth Justice. He has also played a pivotal role initiating sector wide strategic communications and campaigning projects. Enver served for five years as Chair of Trustees at the charity Asylum Aid and was a founding trustee of the charity British Future.
Enver is proud to be the first CEO in the organisation’s 70 year history who is from a black and minority ethnic background. In his spare time he enjoys cycling, camping and generally getting out into the British countryside.
My name is Louisa Polglass and I am a Specialty Trainee in Dental Public Health. I am training in the West Midlands and currently live in Derbyshire. I graduated in Physiotherapy from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2009 and in Dentistry from Bristol in 2014. I completed a Master’s in Public Health at Nottingham University in 2018. I have a keen interest in oral health promotion and the effects of sugar on health.
Ms Eileen Johnston is a Senior Dental Officer within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Public Dental Service. She has a special interest in paediatric dentistry, dental anxiety, trauma informed care and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Eileen qualified from the University of Glasgow in 2004 and completed foundation training and the MFDS in Edinburgh. She has worked for the Public Dental Service in Lothian and now Glasgow where she is the clinical lead for dental CBT and child protection.
Eileen has a Diploma in CBT from the University of West of Scotland and is currently completing a Masters in Mental Health Practice.
At present she is working alongside the Psychology Directorate of NHS Education for Scotland developing a Trauma Informed training programme for the Dental Workforce in line with the National Trauma Training Programme for Scotland.
Andy has been involved with Dentaid for 12 years and has been CEO for the past 8. During this time Andy has lead Dentaid on a transformation programme to help the charity reach more people who struggle to access dental care. Dentaid is now providing clinics to those experiencing homelessness across the country, as well as working with refugees, veterans and children in care. Dentaid also continues to support overseas dental professionals with equipment and money for outreach. “Prevention is key in all aspects of Oral Health”
Dr Martha Paisi, is Research Lead at Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise, Peninsula Dental School, and a Senior Research Fellow in Public Health at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Plymouth. She also has an honorary academic contract with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities.
Martha is a strong advocate of inclusive and multidisciplinary health services and interventions. She is passionate about improving population health and reducing health inequalities. Martha has extensive research experience in public health dentistry and health inequalities. She is leading (research wise) several projects that focus on improving health, provision of care and, access to services for vulnerable groups, including people experiencing homelessness, asylum seekers and refugees, and autistic children and adolescents. Martha has extensive experience in conducting systematic reviews, mixed methods research and analysing primary and secondary data related to health. For the last four years, she has also been providing support to second year undergraduate students from Peninsula Dental School who are conducting their inter-professional engagement module with marginalised groups in the community.
As Clinical Director for Denplan and Simplyhealth, Dr Catherine Rutland leads on clinical governance, which creates an environment of continuously improving standards. This is hugely important for all healthcare providers, but particularly for small independent dental practices. Catherine Rutland represents both organisations at stakeholder events and in communications with healthcare regulatory, representative and academic bodies, as well as indemnity organisations. As part of her dental work, she represents the ‘voice of private dentistry’, bringing the view of Denplan’s thousands of member dentists to policy makers. After qualifying as a dentist from Leeds University in 1992 and securing a House Officer position, Catherine worked as a Senior House Officer in Newcastle before settling into general dental practice. Catherine joined Denplan part-time in 2010 and was promoted to her current position in 2019. She has 19 years’ experience as a joint partner in a private dental practice in Berkshire, and completed a Masters in Medical Ethics and Law from King’s College London in 2013. She is also a certified member of the Institute of Risk Management and completed a Level 7 Certificate in Leadership Mentoring and Coaching in 2016.
Charlotte started her career as a Dental Nurse more that 25 years ago and retains her GDC registration. She has held positions in both dental public health and dental services management for two London Primary Care Trusts. Alongside her NHS role Charlotte started teaching part-time in 2000 at Bart’s and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. In 2011 she moved into higher education full time at the University of Greenwich, where she is an Associate Professor. She holds the dual positions of Head of Public Health and Deputy Head of the School of Human Sciences. Charlotte is currently an elected Council member for BASCD and Lead for oral health improvement. She has a Masters’ (with distinction) in public health and a PhD in dental public health ethics focusing on parental consent procedures and inequalities.
Lucy is a Specialist in Paediatric Dentistry and is currently undertaking post-CCST training in Yorkshire. She completed her pre-CCST training in the West Midlands. Lucy has a keen interest in safeguarding and in 2021 she undertook a Leadership Fellowship with Health Education England Yorkshire and the Humber where she focused on developing dental care pathways for looked after children.
Deborah qualified as a dentist in1987 at the Welsh National School of Medicine & Dentistry. She has worked as a specialist in special care dentistry, deputy medical director, deputy dental dean and MCN and LDN chairs. In her role as an MCN & LDN chairs she led projects in the Midlands that benefitted some of the more vulnerable members of the population including looked after children, adults with severe learning disabilities and people requiring palliative care. She is now retired from dentistry filling her days with a non-executive role at Kettering General Hospital, as a chair of school governors for a primary school and due to embark on a diploma in patisserie at Leith’s school in London.
As a mum of 2 with over 30 years’ experience working as a Dental Nurse and Oral Health Educator in NHS and private, general and specialist referral practices, a Dental Nurse Tutor on NVQ and implant courses, and assisting with NEBDN practical exams, Jo Dawson has developed a passion for children's Oral Health. She currently works at Devonshire House Dental Practice in Cambridge. In her spare time, she has set up a social enterprise (Awesome Oral Health CIC) to run Raisin Awareness, an Oral Health Promotion Project.