The University of Liverpool’s Professor Sondos Albadri has been made President of the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD).
Her inauguration took place on 5 October, at BSPD’s annual conference organised by its Merseyside branch.
Professor Albadri is Vice Dean for Research and Postgraduate Studies at the School of Dentistry and Clinical Lead for the Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences. In her inaugural speech as BPSD President, she shared her extraordinary journey from a childhood in worn-torn Iraq to Professor at the age of 43.
Professor Albadri outlined the challenges that lie ahead, promising to make sure that BSPD’s voice is heard. She said: “There is no doubt that we have a difficult time ahead of us. We face widening inequalities, growing waiting lists, difficulties in primary care and access and new working environments while, in the meantime, teams get used to the new normal. I promise to do my best to make these issues a priority during my term as President.”
The BPSD President tours all BSPD branches during their year in office and delivers a lecture reflecting on their career and academic interests. Professor Albadri’s lecture 2021 vision: A new perspective on hindsight will see her reflect on her career, on the management of childhood trauma and on the lessons learned from the pandemic.
“We now live with the threat of a pandemic and prevention has never been so important. The hindsight we have acquired post pandemic should underpin our work going forward and as President I want to build on what that means for us and for our patients,” she said.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the degree to which children from deprived areas are disadvantaged by poor oral health, and as such, another priority for Professor Albadri will be to support initiatives which help reduce growing inequalities in children’s oral health.
Professor Albadri also paid tribute to her colleagues. “When I moved to Liverpool, I joined what was a very small paediatric dentistry team, but look at us now! We are thriving and growing, and I am so proud to be a member of such a wonderful team.”