Inaugural opening of a new educational and charitable initiative

The inaugural opening of Sterling Dental College proved a fantastic evening, with an array of esteemed professionals, colleagues and friends in attendance. Designed to offer a high standard of education while promoting charity and access to training for everyone, the new College will enhance opportunities available to the local communities. The content and material of each course on offer at Sterling Dental College is accredited by BPP University.

Dr Maher Almasri, Director of the Faculty of Dentistry at BPP University-School of Health, Director of Implant Dentistry Programme at Warwick Medical School and Honorary Principal of Sterling Dental College said:

“The main aim of Sterling Dental College is to enhance dental education with a focus on charity. The vision is to promote oral health and prevent oral disease through education. This will help to increase awareness of oral health in the local communities. The college will provide a range of educational resources and forge links with other providers including BPP University, Warwick Dental and City of London Dental School.”

Amongst the distinguished guests attending the opening were Lord Indarjit Singh of Wimbledon CBE, The Right Honourable Virendra Sharma, MP for Ealing and Southall and Dr Onkar Sahota, member of the London Assembly and a general practitioner in Southall, who all offered kind words about the College and everything it aspires to achieve.

 Lord Singh commented:

“I have been happy to witness the progress of the Sterling Dental Group and the wonderful charitable work it performs, extending learning opportunities for all groups. I think facilities at the College are outstanding – I am amazed and delighted.”

Mr Virendra Sharma MP added:

“I am pleased to support this new initiative. Its vision will help build relationships not only between the profession and the people in Britain, but also in India, so that all the students can work together.  We can therefore take values and ethics from both cultures to help deliver good education to all.”

Dr Onkar Sahota added that he is very much looking forward to the multi-disciplinary approach to health care and that this project will enhance patient care and wellbeing.

Guests at the opening had the chance to meet and network with others while being offered delicious buffet-style food. Attendees were able to view the brand new state of the art facilities throughout the premises, which included a fully equipped skills room with operating microscopes and dedicated training surgeries.

In the conference room, guests were welcomed to the official opening and introduced to the core values and beliefs of Sterling Dental College.

After a few words from Mr Virendra Sharma MP, eminent speaker Professor Nairn Wilson CBE took to the podium to discuss ‘Anticipated changes in the clinical practice of dentistry’, once again highlighting the need for top quality education and training for the next generation of dental professionals.  About Sterling Dental College he said:

“I have been a clinical academic all my life and I have always been a great believer in education, continuing professional development and innovations such as this initiative, so I am delighted to see the new College. This is a group with a real entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to education for professional advancement, which is just great.”

Respected Jasvir Singh Rayat, Sikh Minister Her Majesty’s Prison Service added:

“While there are initiatives promoting general medicine, this is the first to promote dentistry specifically within our community.  As awareness grows, Sterling Dental College will provide these professionals with new career opportunities, strengthening the connection between communities here and in India.”

Sterling Dental College also works closely alongside Sterling Dental Foundation, which is a GDC approved charitable organisation that aims to provide free education for dental graduates who are otherwise unable to receive it due to physical or financial difficulty. Sterling hopes to open its first Sterling Dental centre in India in August this year, with the first Sterling Dental conference in New Delhi in November.

Detail of the hands-on and core courses, seminars and CPD events can be found on the website, www.sterlingdentalcentre.co.uk