Dentistry in the New Year’s Honours
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- Published: Thursday, 02 January 2025 09:48
- Written by Peter Ingle
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Workers at all levels in health care make up a significant proportion of the New Year‘s honours. GP‘s, surgeons, nurses, midwives and radiographers all feature. This year there are two dental recipients.
Pam Swain is Chief Executive of The British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN), the professional association for dental nurses in the UK, and has been awarded an MBE in for services to dental nursing. Pam has worked for the association since 1992 and has been a major force behind the improved recognition and standing of dental nurses in the UK.
Pam’s preparation for her time at BADN included a wide ranging career, including working at NATO Headquarters in a number of posts, ranging from Electronic Warfare to Crisis Management. In her time at BADN she has achieved the City & Guilds Licentiate in Management, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration.
As well as being BADN’s Chief Executive, Pam edits the “British Dental Nurses’ Journal”, and regularly writes for other dental publications.
In 2012, Pam was awarded Outstanding Achievement Award at the Dental Awards, and the BADN Outstanding Contribution to Dental Nursing Award. Pam celebrated 32 years of employment with BADN in 2024 and lives in Fleetwood.
Commenting on the award. BADN President Preetee Hylton said: “Although not a dental nurse herself, she has demonstrated unwavering dedication to the profession. Her tenacity and passion in standing up for dental nurses is admirable. I am delighted and honoured to have her by my side as I start my tenure as BADN President."
Penelope (Pepe) Shirlaw is registered on the Oral Medicine Specialist list with the GDC, and has been awarded the MBE.
She joined the oral medicine department at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in 1989, was an honorary senior lecturer, and now honorary reader within the King’s College London Dental Institute. She became a consultant in oral medicine in 2003 and was the part-time clinical director for the dental service until 2010.
She is now the Local Dental Professional Network (LDN) chair of the London region, working with NHS England to deliver clinically-led commissioning.
She worked on the level 2 accreditation of general dental practitioners and helped shape the Chief Dental Officer’s accreditation policy guidance.
A member of the Board of the Faculty of Dental Surgery, the Royal College of Surgeons (England), she is immediate Past President of the British and Irish Society for Oral Medicine (BISOM) and a past Chair of the Association of Dental Hospitals.
Both awards have been applauded and described as well deserved.
Chief Dental Officer Jason Wong commented: “Delighted to see that Pepe Shirlaw MBE has been recognised for her services to dentistry. She has been part of our OCDO honorary consultants group for around the last year, many more years as London’s Local Dental Network chair & even more years as consultant in Oral Medicine at Guys and St Thomas’. Appreciative of her hard work on behalf of patients and our profession. Congratulations also to Pamela Swain MBE. Chief Executive of British association of dental nurses for services to dental nursing.”
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