Dear Colleagues

I am delighted to send a very warm season’s greetings to all staff, students, alumni, partners and collaborators.

As we approach the end of 2021, it is so important that we take the time to reflect on the successes of the year, as well as the challenges we collectively have overcome. 2021 has indeed been another challenging year. With the ongoing influence of the global pandemic, our staff and students continued to bring their resilience and determination to ensure we delivered our world-class education and research. Through sheer hard work and commendable ingenuity, our faculty has shown its strengths.

We continue to be recognised as one of the leading global institutions in oral and craniofacial research and education. This year we were ranked in the top 5 in the world for dentistry in the QS World University Rankings, and 3rd in the world in the Shanghai Rankings.

We formed strong partnerships with other academic and commercial institutions through global connections such as the DentALLiance. This partnership has already shown its value, with many shared learning, and research opportunities for staff and students available throughout the year.

Our researchers have continued to deliver outstanding successes, which were highlighted by the REF submission this year. We look forward to seeing the results in 2022. A huge thanks to all those involved, a massive effort that will no doubt pay dividends.

Our students continue to follow their passions, and a new society, the King’s Innovative and Sustainable Dentistry Society was formed this year. This aims to create a community where students can immerse themselves into the sustainable evolution of dentistry.

And finally, just a few weeks ago the faculty was awarded the Times Higher Education Award for Technological or Digital Innovation of the Year, for our simulation training facilities. This was a wonderful recognition of a huge team effort that went into the innovative and integrated use of technology, that supported student learning through the pandemic and beyond; and an award we should take significant pride in.

Looking forward to next year, our search will continue for a new Executive Dean, to replace Professor Mike Curtis who moved into a new position at King’s earlier this year. We will also welcome Josephine Mumford who will take on the role of Director of Operations while Joanne Kirner is on secondment until the end of 2022.

However, before we head into the New Year, I’d like to thank everyone at the faculty once again for the work they do every day. Have a restful, happy and peaceful holiday period – you all deserve it!

Professor Michael Escudier

Interim Executive Dean
Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences