A look at the appointment of a new BACD president.
We have all experienced one of the darkest periods of our history in the wake of a global pandemic. Yet the BACD remains a beacon for the dental profession as it continues to foster a highly inclusive community of members, who are committed to supporting one another. Paul Abrahams believes that this ethos will drive the academy’s success in the year ahead, as he proudly takes up the mantle of BACD president from Nishan Dixit. Speaking about his election to the role, he says, “I’m very excited and humbled to be BACD president for 2021. I’ve been involved with the academy since its second annual conference – I became a committee member approximately 11 years ago and have been on the board of directors for nearly a decade. At the beginning of my BACD member journey, I never would’ve believed I would become president. I am a dentist in general practice, after all.
“Some members who are part of the BACD leadership groups may like to be president but are worried about moving forward with this. The reality is that anyone can take up this position. Of course, there’s a lot of hard work involved to get to this point, but it’s amazing to be here.”
Despite the turbulence of the past year, BACD membership has remained incredibly strong. This is a true testament to the supportive nature of the academy, which Paul aims to continue promoting. He says, “I’m hoping to keep the BACD going and get members meeting each other face-to-face again, partaking in dental education the way we love to do so: in a room with excellent speakers. The board of directors will be key to helping me achieve this, with significant influence from president elect, Chris McConnell, and immediate past president, Nishan Dixit. Having got involved with the BACD as a third year dental student and becoming vice president in two years, Simon Chard will also play a huge role in the future success of the academy.
“Furthermore, we have co-opted Lydia Sharples to the board of directors as a representative of young BACD members. This is really important, as we’ve got a fantastic group of young members who are extremely active and keen to learn. In fact, young dentists are oversubscribed to the BACD every year – Lydia maintains a vital connection between young and established dental professionals.”
Considering his role as BACD president further, Paul says, “Being able to speak to an experienced clinician is a vital aspect of BACD membership. The academy’s sense of community is incredibly important and expanding on this is my goal. That’s why we will try to implement an advice scheme, where dental professionals can seek guidance on various matters. From running a dental practice, to performing composite fillings or placing dental veneers, there will be someone at the BACD who can help through this advice scheme, which is going to be a major project for the year.
“I would encourage dental professionals to join the BACD as membership offers access to unparalleled education. We bring some of the best dental speakers from across the globe to our members, whether via hands-on workshops, in-person lectures or online webinars. There’s no better place in the UK where you can access that kind of education. Moreover, we foster a community of fantastic professionals, who are really supportive and helpful. This has been particularly the case in the last year, with everyone supporting each other through extremely difficult times and I know that this attitude will only grow stronger going forward.
“The BACD has always worked towards improving membership value. For instance, during the first national lockdown in the UK, we set up a standalone website for webinars. Our aim is to populate this online platform with additional webinars to ensure there is more free education available for members. As always, we also collaborate extensively with the trade to provide access to educational events where members can get hands-on with the latest and greatest dental products. Additionally, members benefit from exclusive trade deals, especially at the moment when finances are much tighter for everyone.
“Furthermore, there are a number of BACD members currently taking part in the accreditation programme and I think it’s crucial that we support these members in achieving this accolade so that their hard work is fully recognised and celebrated. Getting more and more BACD members accredited is always important to the academy, particularly as it is a challenging journey to undertake.”
Looking to the year ahead, Paul adds, “The BACD’s goal is to continue growing, getting bigger and better each year. Having been part of the BACD for so long, I’d love to just enjoy being president and bring as much of my own experience to the role as I possibly can.”