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Welcoming our new FDS Board members 2025

10 Apr 2025

Congratulations to the five candidates who were elected in our 2025 FDS Board elections. We are delighted to welcome Helen Rogers, Nadia Ahmed and Professor Martin Ashley who will be formally admitted to the Board in the summer. Professor Rachel Leeson and Patrick Magennis were also re-elected.

You can read their election statements below and find out more about our current Board members.


News
Headshot of Helen Rogers
Helen Rogers
Helen Rogers
Through my clinical practice and research, I see the impact of caries on children, families and our society daily. My ambition is to tackle the soaring rates of general anaesthetics required to manage this largely preventable condition. I will strive to support the Faculty in their efforts to lobby for meaningful change.

I have a passion for clinical academia and recognise the current deficit in the academic workforce. I am dedicated to building capacity for future research, which I demonstrated through founding the first trainee-led oral health research collaborative in 2017. I will engage with the Board to establish a long-term, deliverable plan to engage dentists in research early on in their careers.

Having followed a lengthy training pathway myself, I am particularly aware of the challenges facing those pursuing specialisation. As a previous trainee representative on this Board, I will continue to advocate for this community during this turbulent time of changing curricula and new examinations.

Headshot of Nadia Ahmed
Nadia Ahmed
Nadia Ahmed
My priority will be collaborating to support colleagues on a local and national level and developing more networks for members and fellows at all stages of their careers. I strongly believe peer support is essential to nurture professional growth and drive excellence. I will actively grow membership of RCS England by increasing awareness for young dentists so they benefit from educational events to inspire future generations. I will take the initiative to lead and chair study days and deliver courses, utilising the skills and experience I have from previous committee roles (British Orthodontic Society TGG Treasurer 2015-2016 and OSG Secretary 2021-present), having been involved in organising study days and securing sponsorship.

I would like to promote wellbeing through delivering workshops as a certified life coach. During my tenure as BDA CCHDS Chair (2022-2024), I demonstrated the ability to inform and influence with respect for my colleagues. I led a series of careers webinars on Hospital Dental Services and the update of this section of the careers guide. I am actively involved in teaching GDPs, DFTs and StRs and am lead author of a book for Orthodontic trainees, demonstrating my commitment and passion to deliver training as an educator.

Headshot of Martin Ashley
Professor Martin Ashley
Professor Martin Ashley
The work of the Faculty is of great importance to those who want to train further, progress their careers and deliver high standards of patient care, both in the UK and internationally. I recognise the impact the Faculty has had on my own career so far and want to contribute to delivering the existing and future strategic aims. I believe my leadership experience will benefit this work.

I have been a consultant in Restorative Dentistry for 23 years in Manchester, with a strong clinical interest in MDT work, as one of the lead clinicians in both our regional cleft and hypodontia services. I am a national specialty lead for the GIRFT Head and Neck Cancer review. I was RD-UK chair from 2018-2023, and in Manchester, Assistant Med Director for Dentistry until 2020 and Trust Assistant Med Director for Informatics 2020-23, leading the Epic EPR implementation. I have a long association with FDS, Training Grades rep to the FDS Board, 1999-01, MRD examiner and then chair of MRD examinations 2004-16 and am currently a national speciality advisor. My Mouth Care Matters course is accessed in 108 countries.

I have strong interests in education, curriculum, governance, informatics, clinical standards, ethics and coding.

Headshot of Rachel Leeson
Professor Rachel Leeson
Professor Rachel Leeson

I believe that I can enhance the mission of the Faculty and College by ensuring that training allied to oral health care, and in particular oral surgery, meets and anticipates the expectations of patients, health care organisations and the public. I have significant experience in the clinical practice and education of oral surgery and allied subjects that will enable me to benefit the Faculty. I have strong educational skills by virtue of being:

  • Programme Director for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at UCL Eastman Dental Institute, which has led to numerous taught and research students achieving higher postgraduate degrees, successfully passing RCS England examinations and securing senior positions around the globe;
  • external examiner for both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

I have a proactive role in research by virtue of:

  • leadership of many clinical trials of novel therapies;
  • being  the Graduate Tutor and Head of the Eastman Centre for Postgraduate Research;
  • being a supervisor and examiner for MPhil and PhD candidates.

I was elected to the Faculty Board in 2019. Currently I am Co-Chair of the Postgraduate Education Committee and serve as a member of the Clinical Standards Committee, Fellowship and Awards Committee and Examinations Committee.

Headshot of Patrick Magennis
Patrick Magennis
Patrick Magennis

Representation from OMFS on FDS Board provides a useful and pragmatic link between medical and dental training. During 2025, as new examinations for dental specialty fellowships are developed, I am sure my knowledge and experience of training in the UK and Europe will be impactful.

In 2024 I worked with the FDS Dean and the COPDEND Lead Dean for Dental Core Trainees (DCTs) to help the General Dental Council to change its approach to temporary registered DCTs. This averted a crisis in care provision and DCT employment. Most DCT posts are in OMFS. My patch, Mersey, has a great track record of delivering dental specialty trainees.

I continue to have a strong record of delivering and a voracious appetite for work. As the Chair of the FDS Fellowship and Awards Committee I have improved its efficiency and raised the profile of the FDS.

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