BDA celebrates exceptional dentists
Three Scotland-based dentists are included.
Seventeen people are being honoured in the latest round of the British Dental Association awards that celebrate excellence in dentistry.
They include David McColl GDP, David Cross, Specialist Orthodontist, and Manar Elkhazindar, Consultant in Restorative Dentistry, NHS Highland.
The prestigious BDA Honours and Awards are given to people for their exceptional achievements, their commitment to the BDA, and their work for the dental profession.
We are always looking to highlight those who have shown a commitment to advancing dentistry and worked tirelessly for our profession.
Roz McMullan
Recipients come from all sections of the profession: from general practice through to community and hospital dentistry, and across all four nations. This year we are proud to honour four recipients with our new Award for Excellence, celebrating a hospital dentist and a specialist orthodontist, as well as a special care clinical director, and a general dental practitioner (GDP).
Roz McMullan, Chair of the BDA’s Honours and Awards Committee, said: “We are proud to celebrate these 17 exceptional dentists for their contribution to the profession and the Association. This year, we celebrate four dentists with our prestigious new ‘Award for Excellence’, which recognises special service at any stage of a career.”
Roz added: “We are always looking to highlight those who have shown a commitment to advancing dentistry and worked tirelessly for our profession. We strongly encourage nominations from all areas of the profession – so please do consider putting forward a colleague/s for the next round of awards.”
Fellowship Medal
Honours outstanding and distinguished service to the profession and the BDA
- Peter Crooks, GDP (Northern Ireland)
- Mike Gall, Surgeon Captain (D) (England)
- Alison Lockyer, GDP (England)
- David McColl, GDP (Scotland)
John Tomes Medal
Honours members of the dental profession and of scientific eminence, or persons distinguished in medical or allied services, for their outstanding service to the dental profession or the BDA
- Professor Avijit Banerjee, Professor of Cariology & Operative Dentistry / Honorary Consultant and Clinical Lead, Restorative Dentistry at the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London and Guy’s & St. Thomas’ Hospitals Trust, London, UK.
- Professor David Williams, Professor Global Oral Health, Barts and the London, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London and Academic Lead, Centre for Public Health and Primary Care
Life Membership
This honour is usually awarded after retirement and celebrates long and valuable service to the BDA, often at Branch, Group or local level
- David Cross, Specialist Orthodontist (Scotland)
- John Edwards, GDP (England)
- Julie Kirkby, GDP (England)
- Josie Lemon, Clinical Director and Specialist in Special Care Dentistry (England)
- Veenu Singla, GDP (England)
- Malcolm Smith, Postgraduate Dental Dean, NHS England Education NE and N Cumbria
- Charles Viggor, GDP (England)
Award for Excellence
This new award recognises special service at any level of dentistry either nationally or internationally
- Manar Elkhazindar, Consultant in Restorative Dentistry, NHS Highland
- Karen Juggins, Consultant Orthodontist, Royal Stoke University
- Sandra Sandham, Special Care Dentistry Clinical Director (North Wales)
- Michael Watts, GDP (England)
Nominate for the next round of awards
You can find out more and nominate someone via the BDA website: https://www.bda.org/about-us/honours-and-awards/
The deadline for the next round of nominations is 30 May 2025. Nominations for the award for young dentists (Joy Harrild Award) should be submitted by 30 April 2025.