From the Dean: Reflections on Diplomates Day 2018

Several weeks ago, I had the great pleasure to preside over my first Diplomates Ceremony as Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons (FDS).

It was a day that celebrated the hard work and achievements of a large number of dental professionals from the United Kingdom and overseas. We welcomed new Fellows and Members to the Faculty, awarded prizes for research and exceptional performance in examinations, as well as presenting certificates to those who had been successful in recent examinations run by the FDS.

Some of our Diplomates had travelled from as far as India, Malaysia, Poland, and Turkey, and were accompanied by their proud families and friends, all of whom had and will continue to be providers of great support throughout their careers.

The day was a reminder of the value of celebrations like this and why we should take the time to reflect and applaud the effort which goes into embarking on a career in the dental profession, and the commitment required to continue to develop and grow.

As an institution, the FDS has played a central role in the history of dentistry since it was established in 1947. But even before this, the Royal College of Surgeons was fundamental to dentistry’s development. The very first dental qualification, the Licentiate in Dental Surgery, was awarded under the auspices of the College and was essential to legitimising dentistry as a medical profession.

The first Licentiate examinations were held 158 years ago in 1860, and among the original examiners was Sir John Tomes, one of dentistry’s founding fathers whose scientific research provides the basis for much of modern dental practice.

The Ceremony was also a reminder of what the FDS represents. Formalities, traditions and heritage aside, it emphasised the Faculty’s role in supporting, training and guiding generations of dental surgeons.  

In dentistry, as with any profession, knowledge does not stand still. From the moment we qualify, we each build our knowledge in a number of ways: from the daily lessons learned from our patients, conducting and publishing research, further study, and learning from our colleagues in the wider dental team.

The FDS supports you in your pursuit of knowledge, whether it be through our courses, online learning platform, or through opportunities for continuing professional development (CPD). Diplomates of years past return to help develop our educational curriculum, deliver courses, advise on a range of consulting committees and sit on the Faculty Board.

Now more than ever, we are focused on improving how and what we offer, with plans to roll out a suite of interactive webinars later in the year. If you have not already, I encourage you to share your thoughts and ideas on what topics you would most like to see on the programme via this short survey.

By supporting all dental surgeons, new and experienced, we are making oral health better for everyone – dental professionals, patients and the wider community. 

Professor Michael Escudier

Dean, Faculty of Dental Surgery

To view a full list of our 2018 Diplomates, click here.