This year?s annual Dental Awards, organised by The Probe and the British Dental Health Foundation and held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on April 24, culminated in the presentation of the Outstanding Achievement Award to Professor Crispian Scully CBE.
A more deserving recipient it would have been hard to find and, as Nigel Carter, chief executive of the BDHF, said in his introduction, it was difficult in the time available to give an adequate picture of the winner?s remarkable career ? impossible, more likely, for an individual who is visiting professor in four countries and six universities and whose CV spans 37 pages!
Briefly, having qualified in dentistry with honours at the University of London in 1968, Professor Scully went on to gain clinical experience both from hospital and primary care settings, in the NHS and privately, in the UK and abroad.
His interests are mainly in the oral health care of patients requiring special care, especially those afflicted with ulceration, pain, halitosis, white lesions, dry mouth or cancer. He is widely recognised on the international scene and founded and is chairman of the International Academy of Oral Medicine (IAOM), to name but one of the auspicious organisations to which he is connected.
Dean and director of studies and research UCL-Eastman from 1993 to 2008, Professor Scully is currently professor of oral medicine, pathology and microbiology, University of London; professor in special care dentistry UCL-Eastman Dental Institute, and honorary consultant UCLHT and Great Ormond Street Hospital; director of special projects, chair of division of maxillofacial diagnostic and surgical sciences (UCL-EDI); visiting professor at the universities of Athens, Edinburgh, Helsinki, Hertfordshire, Middlesex and West of England. He is a board member of the Eastman Foundation for Oral Research and Training (EFFORT); trustee Mouth Cancer Foundation, patron of the British School of Osteopathy, and adviser to Swinfen Charitable Trust. He was appointed CBE in 2000.
The most prolific of authors, he has published probably the highest number of books, chapters and papers on dentistry worldwide on applied sciences; oral medicine, oral surgery, oral pathology; special care dentistry and transcultural oral health, with more than 1300 publications excluding abstracts and videos or compact discs and public press. His book ?Medical Problems in Dentistry? was awarded the Doody Prize as one of the top-selling medical or dental books worldwide, while ?Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine? won him the Society of Authors? and Royal Society of Medicine?s first prize for new authored books. He has been invited to assess education at institutions all over the world and been the keynote lecturer at innumerable national congresses.
One might have expected such an eminent academic to be rather intimidating but the illustrious professor loves a good party and he and his charming wife Zoe were the most delightful of table companions.
Earlier in the evening awards in the 22 other categories were presented to the winners by representatives of sponsors Denplan, The DentalWeb, Dentsply and Wrigley (details here).
The awards are now in their 11th year and the evening began as usual with a very jolly cocktail reception. Master of ceremonies was the ebullient Gyles Brandreth who used skills developed as an MP, performer and broadcaster to keep the programme rollicking along. Presentations were made in two parts, with a delicious four-course dinner in between, and the beginning of the second half saw the trade award for product innovation going to Astek Innovations for the inSafe dental anaesthetic syringe, designed to protect practitioners and patients from needlestick injury.
A lucky Gary Henson, sales director, The Dentist, was the winner of the first prize in the Smilecool-sponsored draw in aid of Mouth Cancer Action Week ? return tickets for two to New York by scheduled airline and two nights hotel accommodation. The second prize was a return Eurostar trip to Paris for two and the third a mixed case of French wines. Six runners-up won free passes for up to eight people for either half-day or full-day paintballing.
The formal part of the evening completed, the floor was open for dancing, while the casino offered entertainment for the less energetic.
For photographs of the event see Mary's Photos and if you missed them earlier, you can also see our unofficial photos of the night.
Note: Photos included
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