Punching above its weight for 100 years
A remarkable group of former students is helping Dundee Dental School celebrate its centenary in style this year.
The school’s dean, Professor Marl Hector, revealed that during the planning stages for the centenary celebrations it was noted that there were 10 Dundee alumni who were either existing or former heads of dental schools or in senior positions with the postgraduate deaneries across the UK.
It was decided that they would all be invited to come and speak at the school for what has become the Centenary Alumni Lecture Series.
The dean of the Dental Faculty at RCSEd and former Dundee dean Prof William Saunders was the first speaker in February last year and he has been followed by Newcastle dean Prof Jimmy Steele; Prof Ferranti Wong of the London deanerie; Prof Jon Cowpe, director of postgraduate education in Wales, University of Cardiff; and Prof Paul Speight, former dean of dentistry at Sheffield.
In 2016 Cardiff dental dean Professor Mike Lewis and outgoing Dublin dean Prof June Nunn have already spoken, with Professor Philip Lumley, head of the dental school at the University of Birmingham (20 April) and Prof Callum Youngson, head of the dental school in Liverpool (10 June), who are still to appear.
The only alumnus on Prof Hector’s list who was unable to come up and speak is the new dean at Sheffield Prof Chris Deery.
Prof Hector said that he felt it was quite a remarkable achievement for Dundee to have so many alumni occupying such important positions, particularly in the centenary year. He said: “I think it is quite extraordinary for one of the smallest schools in the country to have such an impact and have an impact which spreads out across the whole of the UK.
“I just hope that the reputation for punching above our weight continues, that is certainly the way we want it to go.”
The centenary celebrations will culminate in a special centenary dinner on 11 June where a special publication charting the history of the dental hospital and school will be unveiled. It is entitled: Dundee Dental Hospital and School – Transforming Lives for 100 years.
To get your copy at the pre-publication price of £7.50, visit: www.uod.ac.uk/24DiqYA
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