College of Dentistry Members Win Prestigious International Awards
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- Published: Thursday, 21 November 2024 10:11
- Written by Guy Tuggle
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The Pierre Fauchard Academy (PFA), an international dental honours organisation, has conferred awards upon two senior members of the College of General Dentistry CGD). Founded in 1936, The CGD was the first independent college for primary care dentistry in the UK. A professional body and registered charity, it serves the public interest in oral health and is the UK‘s only medical college run by and for dental professionals.
Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent, President Emeritus of the College, has received the Academy’s prestigious Elmer S Best Memorial Award. Named in memory of the founder of the Academy, it is awarded for distinguished contributions of international significance to dentistry, and is given to no more than one dentist from outside the United States in any one year.
In making the award, the PFA Board of Trustees congratulated Sir Nairn on his lifetime of service to dentistry and recognised the impact of his work across the globe.
The award was presented in New Orleans at the Academy’s 86th Annual Meeting and International Gala, which was held in October in conjunction with the American Dental Association’s 2024 Annual Convention.
Sir Nairn is the first British recipient of the award in almost 30 years and only the sixth since it was established in 1962.
Thanking the Academy for the award, Sir Nairn said: “It is an exceptional honour to be recognised by one’s peers nationally; it is humbling to be recognised and honoured by one’s peers internationally, specifically for distinguished contributions of international significance to dentistry.”
Indicating that he will treasure the prestigious honour, Sir Nairn expressed the hope that he would have the opportunity to strengthen his contribution to the activities and mission of the Academy, which are ‘to recognise and develop outstanding leadership in dentistry internationally’.
Dr Manny (Manjul) Vasant MBE FCGDent, a general dental practitioner for over 50 years, was inducted as an Honorary Fellow of the Academy – another rare honour for a UK dentist – at the same New Orleans event.
Dr Vasant is principal of a mixed NHS-and-private dental practice in Croydon, London, and has been staff dentist at Croydon University Hospital since 1985. He is also a registered specialist in prosthodontics and has been placing dental implants since 1994.
A former Fellow, board member and regional diploma tutor of the Faculty of General Dental Practice of the Royal College of Surgeons of England – FGDP, the forerunner of the College – he completed its Diploma in Implant Dentistry and Diploma of Membership in General Dental Surgery.
Dr Vasant hold numerous prestigious posts including being a Fellow of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and an Honorary Fellow of the International College of Dentists. He was awarded an MBE for services to dentistry in 2001.
Accepting his Award Dr Vasant said “I cannot fully describe how much I appreciate being the recipient of such a prestigious award. I am truly honoured.
"Although I have been a Fellow of the PFA for several years now, this award will inspire me to enhance my contribution to the Academy, which has done so much to recognise and promote leadership in dentistry and raise the profile of the profession.”
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