10th ANNUAL SENIOR DENTAL LEADERS PROGRAMME HELD IN LONDON
Conference Forges Global Network of Senior Oral Health Leaders to Advance the Mission of a Cavity-Free World for Children
150 participants gathered in London from March 6-10 to attend the 10th annual Senior Dental Leaders Programme (SDL-10), an international conference designed to develop high-level leadership and management capabilities in oral health leaders from around the globe. First conceptualised by Professor Raman Bedi in 2007 at King’s College London, the Senior Dental Leaders Programme is organised by the Global Child Dental Fund, King’s College London Dental Institute, and the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. SDL continues to be co-sponsored by Henry Schein, Inc., and Colgate-Palmolive.
The intensive multi-day conference brought together dental policy makers, national Chief Dental Officers, representatives from NGOs, and members of the clinical and academic communities, who worked to forge an international collaborative network with the goal of advancing the mission of a cavity-free world for children. Speakers at the Programme included Dr. Bruce Donoff, Dean of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine; Dr. Dianne Rekow, Dean of King’s College London Dental Institute; and Dr. Tony Volpe, Trustee of the Global Child Dental Fund.
Professor Raman Bedi, Chairman of the Global Child Dental Fund, said: “The oral health challenges of the modern world cannot be overcome by individuals alone. For the past 10 years the Senior Dental Leaders programme has worked successfully to connect leaders from the dental profession. Leadership training is as important as gaining clinical skills. The charity’s focus with our partners is to develop more opportunities for younger members of the profession to develop their own leadership skills.”
Over the course of the conference, participants exchanged knowledge and research, shared best practices, and examined case studies of strategies to meet oral health challenges. They also gained greater insight into effective team leadership and change management through a series of presentations and panel discussions. Each day of the conference was aligned around key topics, including: “The Global Context and the Leadership of Strategy,” “Developing Leadership in the Dental Profession,” “Team Leadership and Change Management,” and “Scenario Planning and Public Health Innovations.”
From left to right: Dr Bruce Donoff, Professor Dianne Rekow, Dr Raman Bedi