ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE
Prof. Paul Ashley, Professor in Paediatric Dentistry, UCL Eastman
Professor Paul Ashley graduated from the University of Manchester in 1991 and went on to get his PhD there. He has worked at the UCL Eastman in London, England since 1998 and is academic lead of the Paediatric Dentistry Unit. His interests are in dental materials, oral health in sport, evidence-based dentistry and sustainability.
Ollie Bailey, Clinical Fellow in Restorative Dentistry, Newcastle University
Ollie worked in general practice for 13 years, before moving to Newcastle University where he is currently researching various elements of restorative dentistry and vital pulp therapies. Ollie is also currently leading an international consensus project on class II restoration technique alongside Niek Opdam. He has written several book chapters and published numerous articles on restorative dentistry techniques. Ollie has been heavily involved in postgraduate education, teaching sectional matrix technique for a decade.
Andrew Biggadike, Regional Lead for Secondary, Community and Specialist Dentistry, North East London Health and Care Partnership
Worked in NHS dentistry in a non-clinical capacity for 15 years for both South East England and London regions. Upon joining the London Region team in 2013 his focus was primary care dentistry and the provision of level 2 services. From 2018 he has been responsible for secondary care, community and specialist dentistry for London.
Alifia Chakera, Head of Pharmaceutical Sustainability, Scottish Government
Alifia is the Head of Pharmaceutical Sustainability with Scottish Government’s Health Infrastructure and PPE Division, leading a complex programme of work impacting operational practice and health economic decision making. Her pioneering research into nitrous oxide mitigation led to her establishing the award-winning Nitrous Oxide Project which allowed expansion of her waste mitigation methodology globally. Alifia is also a co-founder of Pharmacy Declares a network of pharmacists committed to environmental sustainability.
Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/alifia-chakera/
Twitter @AlifiaChakera
Prof. Yasmi Crystal, Clinical Professor, New York University
Dr. Yasmi Crystal is Clinical Professor at New Yok University, ABPD examiner, and on the medical staff at RWJ University Hospital. Concurrently, she has been in private practice for over 30 years. Her numerous research articles focus on topics related to the Management of Caries in Pediatric Dentistry. She is active in scientific positions of numerous organizations including AAPD, IADR, IAPD. For her scientific contributions, she was the recipient of the Suzy Seal Coll Evidence-Based Dentistry Service Award in 2023.
Dr Sandro Di Simplicio, Consultant, Royal Victoria Infirmary
Medical doctor graduated in Italy. Moved to the UK in 2002 where I did three fellowships before being appointed as a VR Consultant in Newcastle. Main interest is new technologies. First user in the UK for the Ngenuity system and first surgeon in the world to create a complete carbon neutral pathway for cataract surgery
Prof Hal Duncan, Professor and Consultant in Endodontics, Dublin Dental University Hospital
Consultant in Endodontics for 15 years in Dublin. Editor-in-Chief of the IEJ, President-Elect of the European Society of Endodontology (ESE). Author of over 100 international peer reviewed publications, editor of 3 textbooks. Lead author ESE position statement on the management of deep caries and the exposed pulp as well as the lead on the ESE S3-level clinical guidelines. As principal investigator leads grant funded research unit on scientific and translation vital pulp treatment.
Prof. Rebecca Harris, Professor of Dental Public Health, University of Liverpool
Rebecca Harris is a Professor of Dental Public Health at Liverpool University whose research on health inequalities and health policy has been recognised as world leading with an International Association for Dental Research Distinguished Scientist award in 2020.
She has held a variety of posts in different organisations from a Clinical Director of Community Dental Services, university Professor and Dean, as well as more recently as Deputy Chief Dental Officer for England.
Dr Sameena Hassan, Sessional GP and Clinical Lead, Deep End GP Network
Sameena completed her GP training in 2012 and has been a GP at Chopwell Primary Health Care Centre for the last 8 years. She has been the co-clinical lead for the Integrated Care System’s Deep End Network since January 2020. Sameena is committed to working towards equitable primary care, delivering services and resources proportionate to need. Until October 2022 she was the Clinical Director of Gateshead Outer West Primary care network and is currently the research and development clinical lead in Newcastle GP Federation.
Dr David Johnson, Dental Officer, Cwm Taf Morgannwg uHB,
Seasoned Dental Officer with over 20 years’ expertise treating special care adults and children. STAC approved dental sedation trainer.
Current Chairman of the BDA Welsh Council.Published journal articles on research within the fields of paediatric dentistry and dental acupuncture.
Outside of work regularly teaches postgraduate courses on the management of head and neck pain using acupuncture.
Joanna Johnson, Clinical Director, Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust
Joanna Johnson obtained her Dental UG degree from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne University and then went on to take up 5 senior house officer posts in multiple specialities around the country until undertaking her Specialist Training in Paediatric Dentistry at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT) in 2003.
Joanna has 25 years of NHS experience with over 10 years of senior leadership roles.
Joanna qualified as a Consultant Paediatric Dentist from London in 2009 and went on to take a Consultant post at St Georges Hospital in SW London. She then moved to GSTT in 2014 as a Paediatric Consultant and Service Lead and was appointed Clinical Director of the Dental Directorate in March 2019.
In April 2021 Joanna was appointed the South East London’s Acute Provider Collaborative Dental Network Lead.
In January 2022 Joanna was successful in being appointed Clinical Director of South East London’s Acute Provider Collaborative.
Matt Loftus, Coach / Facilitator, Loftus Coaching and Consultancy Ltd
Matt is a licensed Mental Health First Aid instructor and believes passionately in reducing the stigma surrounding mental health. Working closely in the field of suicide prevention, Matt knows just how important it is to spot the early signs of poor mental health.
Laura Middlemass, Assistant Sustainability Manager, Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Laura’s experience in sustainability is focussed around project management, engagement and communications including 10 years working for Energy Saving Trust, and 6 years as part of Newcastle Hospitals’ sustainability team. Currently Laura co-ordinates a programme of change management and engagement activities to embed sustainability in the culture of the organisation, in line with the ambitious Climate Emergency Strategy to achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2030.
Paul Myers, Specialty Doctor in Restorative Dentistry, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
I worked in primary care for over 26 years and developed an interest in endodontic treatment. I was involved in dedicated endodontic undergraduate teaching then took up my current role in 2019. I mostly provide endodontic troubleshooting treatment in the hospital alongside teaching PG students and junior colleagues. I have been providing some endodontic input for the StR staff in the Paediatric Dentistry department at Newcastle which is a new venture.
Penelope Shirlaw, London Local Dental Network Chair, NHS England - London Region
Pepe Shirlaw qualified in Birmingham carrying out Oral Surgery before specialising in Oral Medicine. She was Consultant in Oral Medicine at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Trust until recently with a particular interest in the oral manifestations of systemic disease notably Sjogren’s and Behcet’s Disease.
She continues as Chair of the London Local Dental Professional Network (LDN) working with Commissioners and Clinicians providing Dental Services in primary, intermediate, community and secondary care across London.
Dr Sarah Sowden, NIHR/HEE ICA Clinical Lecturer/ Hon Consultant in Public Health, Newcastle University
Sarah leads applied health and care inequalities research at Newcastle University including the UNFAIR and Deep End programmes. Sarah’s research aims to enable the NHS, local government and wider system partners to better promote health equity and reduce inequalities in health and care access, experience and outcome. Employed across settings to strengthen links between research, policy and practice, Sarah also works as a Public Health Consultant within the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities in the North East of England; the area with the highest rates of poverty, unemployment, poor health and early death in England. Sarah sits on the executive of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Clinical Research Network and leads research programmes for the NIHR NENC Applied Research Collaboration.