Sir Professor Nairn Wilson
We are delighted to introduce our first DTA Ambassador, Sir Professor Nairn Wilson.
A valued member of the DTA Fellowships panel, Sir Nairn's extensive knowledge and experience in dentistry, dental technology in particular, played a pivotal role in the development and piloting phase of the new DTA Fellowship Award launched in 2022. We now welcome Sir Nairn as a DTA Ambassador.
"I consider this appointment to be a great honour. I look forward to working with the DTA as it's first Ambassador." - Sir Professor Nain Wilson
Professor Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent, Honorary Founding President (now President Emeritus) of the College of General Dentistry, has just recently been appointed Knight Bachelor in King Charles III's first Birthday Honours List.
Professor Wilson is thought to be the first dental professional to be knighted since Sir Nicholas Sturridge KCVO in 2007, and is the first to be made a Knight Bachelor since Sir Ian Gainsford in 1995.
Professor Wilson - now Sir Nairn - is a Founder and Founding Fellow of the College, and its first Chair, serving from 2017-20. He was then appointed Honorary Founding President, and following the full activation of the College with the transfer of the membership of the former Faculty of General Dental Practice in 2021, President Emeritus. He was founding Editor of the Faculty's (now College's) Primary Dental Journal from 2012-2017 and was also the College's first Life Fellow.
A Patron of the Dental Wellness Trust, he is a Past President of the British Dental Association and Emeritus Professor of Dentistry at King's College London, where he was Professor of Restorative Dentistry, Dean and Head of the College's Dental Institute, and Deputy Vice Principal for Health. His many other positions have included Dean of Manchester University Dental Hospital and subsequently Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Manchester, Editor of the Journal of Dentistry, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, President of the General Dental Council, Chair of the Council of Deans and Heads of Dental Schools (now the Dental Schools Council) and co-chair of the Forum of European Heads and Deans of Dental Schools.
He was made Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2004 for services to dentistry and healthcare regulation. His awards for research excellence include the Hollenback Memorial Prize, a British Dental Association Tomes Medal and the International Association for Dental Research Ivar Mjor Award for practice-based research.
DTA Ambassadors
A DTA Ambassador is an individual who is a pillar of the DTA community. Someone who has joined in the mission to raise awareness of the DTA and our vision to advance standards within dental technology for the benefit of the oral healthcare of the nation.
What does a DTA Ambassador do?
A DTA Ambassador works with the DTA to provide expert advice, support and guidance to our members, and share an exchange of views on key issues affecting the dental profession with key players within the profession.
With their thorough understanding of the dental technology profession and DTA as an organisation, they support with meeting set aims for the benefit of the membership, network and build relationships with members and sister organisations both online or in-person.
Become a DTA Ambassador
Apply NOW
If you would like to find out more information about the role and how to become a DTA Ambassador, please send an email to info@dta-uk.org with the subject 'Becoming a DTA Ambassador'.
PFA honours Sir Nairn Wilson
Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent, President Emeritus of the College of General Dentistry (CGDent), and an Ambassador for the Dental Technologists Association (DTA) has received the Pierre Fauchard Academy's (PFA), prestigious Elmer S Best Memorial Award.
The PFA is an international dental honours organisation founded in 1936. Named in memory of the founder of the Academy, the Elmer S Best Memorial Award is awarded for distinguished contributions of international significance to dentistry, and is given to no more than one dentist from outside the United States in any one year.
In making the award, the PFA Board of Trustees congratulated Sir Nairn on his lifetime of service to dentistry, recognising the impact of his work across the globe.
The award was presented in New Orleans at the Academy's 86th Annual Meeting and International Gala, which was held in conjunction with the American Dental Association's 2024 Annual Convention.
Sir Nairn is the first British recipient of the award in almost 30 years and only the sixth since it was established in 1962. The previous UK-based winners were Martin Rushton in 1967, Cyril Devere-Green in 1973, Gerald Leatherman in 1977, Hamish Thomson in 1991 and Dr John McLean OBE in 1996.
Dr Pankaj Patel OGW FCGDent, the Academy's International President, congratulated Sir Nairn on joining the illustrious list of recipients: "It is an honour for the Pierre Fauchard Academy to recognise Sir Nairn. His contributions to dental literature and his support of dental education and dentistry in general are well-known by legions of dentists around the world. We were pleased that Sir Nairn and Lady Wilson could join us at our international gala in New Orleans."
Thanking the Academy for the award, Sir Nairn said: "It is an exceptional honour to be recognised by one's peers nationally; it is humbling to be recognised and honoured by one's peers internationally, specifically for distinguished contributions of international significance to dentistry."
Indicating that he will treasure the prestigious honour, Sir Nairn expressed the hope that he would have the opportunity to strengthen his contribution to the activities and mission of the Academy, which are 'to recognise and develop outstanding leadership in dentistry internationally'.
IImage caption (top) Sir Nairn receiving his Elmer S Best Award medal and plaque. (l-r): Robert Cattoi, PFA International Executive Director; Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent; Dr Pankaj Patel OGW FCGDent, PFA International President; Dr Ghabi Kaspo, PFA Vice-President.