Henry Schein supports 14th annual Senior Dental Leaders Programme at King’s College London
Henry Schein has sponsored for the 14th year the Senior Dental Leaders Programme, reflecting the Company's enduring commitment to expanding access to health care and to developing high-level leadership capabilities in oral health leaders from around the world.
The six-day conference, which took place at The Royal Horseguards Hotel in London, included representatives from five countries and featured management development training the attendees could apply to help address oral health challenges in their local communities.
First conceptualised in 2007 at King's College London by Professor Raman Bedi, DDS, the Programme is organised by the Global Child Dental Fund, the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and this year's host, the King's College London Dental Institute. Henry Schein Cares, the Company's global corporate social responsibility program, has supported the event—together with co-sponsor Colgate-Palmolive—since its inception.
The Programme is attended by a diverse cohort from within the international dental community working collaboratively toward a cavity-free world for children, including dental policymakers, national Chief Dental Officers, representatives from non-governmental organizations, members of the clinical and academic communities, and other stakeholders. Henry Schein sponsored delegates representing the USA, UK, and Malawi.
The conference was an opportunity for participants to share, examine, and develop strategies to meet oral health challenges. They also gained greater insight into effective team leadership and change management, scenario planning and public health innovation, and the potential impact system change can have in transforming oral health for people in need.
“At Henry Schein, we have a strong commitment to the Senior Dental Leaders Programme, and we are dedicated to collaborating with each sector of the dental community to spread awareness of the importance of oral health – a common goal we all share,” said Patrick Allen, Managing Director at Henry Schein UK and Ireland. “The meeting has been an invaluable opportunity to bring together individuals from across the globe to learn, to share experiences, and to build new alliances. We are proud to support the Senior Dental Leaders development and to share thinking and best practice within different country settings.”
Speakers included:
• Dr. Sara Hurley, co-programme director of Senior Dental Leaders and trustee of the GCDF;
• Dr. Bruce Donoff, Former Dean of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine;
• Professor Jenny Gallagher, Dean for International Affairs, King's College London Dental Institute;
• Dr. Marsha Butler, Former Vice President of Oral Health and Professional Relations, Colgate-Palmolive; and
• Mahesh Verma, Vice-Chancellor of the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University.
“We were delighted to finally hold the 14th Senior Dental Leaders Programme in London,” said Professor Raman Bedi, Chair of the Global Child Dental Fund and Former Chief Dental Officer for England. “After a couple of difficult years facing the Coronavirus pandemic, we were fortunate to be able to convene a wonderful group of leaders from the USA, UK, Mexico, Taiwan, and Malawi.”
“The leaders spent five days together improving their strategic thinking, gaining allies, and sharing critical thinking and best practice within different country settings. They now join a growing Senior Dental Leaders alumni network, many of whom continue to work with us on pivotal child oral health programmes in addition to progressing to significant leadership positions in oral health,” Professor Bedi added.
The speakers at SDL included Professor E. Dianne Rekow, who passed away unexpectedly shortly after the event. “Dianne Rekow was devoted to the work of SDL and made an extraordinary contribution to developing the next generation of global oral health leaders,” said Professor Bedi. “All of us at SDL are better for having known Dianne, and her presence will be forever missed.”
