CGDent reaches 400 fellows
NewsPosted by: Dental Design 3rd July 2023
The College of General Dentistry (CGDent), which opened following the separation of the Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP) from the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) in 2021, has now admitted 400 dental professionals into Fellowship in recognition of their high-level and wide-ranging capabilities.
Fellowship, which is denoted by the postnominal letters ‘FCGDent’, is the highest membership grade of the College. The mark of accomplishment in general dentistry, it indicates a dental professional’s commitment to professional development and reflective practice, diligence in upholding the highest standards of clinical care, and distinction across clinical and professional domains.
Fellows are listed in the College’s online Member Register, and are eligible to wear a special lapel pin and to attend biannual Fellows’ Receptions, at which new Fellows have their Fellowship formally presented. Most recently, the College presented 47 individuals with their Fellowships in front of 120 Fellows and Associate Fellows at their Summer Reception.
The primary means of establishing eligibility for Fellowship is by experience, a route launched last year to recognise a wide range of skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications relevant to dentistry and oral healthcare, with transparent criteria and a straightforward application process. Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the requirements of at least three of five fellowship domains, for each of which detailed criteria have been published: Clinical; Teaching, Learning & Assessment; Leadership & Management; Publications & Research; and Law & Ethics.
Fellowship eligibility can also be established by equivalence for those already awarded Fellowship by the former FGDP(UK), by any of the UK and Ireland Royal Colleges or their Faculties of Dental Surgery (FDS) or Dentistry (FFD), by the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (FRACDS), Royal College of Dentists of Canada (FRCDC) or College of Dentistry of South Africa (FCD[SA]), or to those who are Board Certified by the American Board of General Dentistry.
The College Council may also invite an individual into Fellowship when satisfied that their career and qualifications demonstrably meet the requirements for an application either by experience or by equivalence.
Additionally, former Fellows of the FGDP who elected to transfer directly to the College when the Faculty separated from the RCS were automatically admitted to Fellowship of the College without the need for application.
However, while there are different routes to College Fellowship, there are no different types of College Fellowship. Having demonstrated by whichever means that they meet the required standard, all College Fellows enjoy equal standing.
Addressing those gathered at the Summer Reception, College President Abhi Pal said:
“Fellowship of our College is a reflection of the years of sustained professional development you have undertaken throughout your career. No matter which path you have taken to Fellowship, it has required sacrifice and perseverance for the ultimate purpose of service to your patients and the profession. I not only commend you for that, but firmly believe the College of General Dentistry is the only body that will give recognition for these efforts. Admittance to Fellowship should however not be the end of a journey, but the start of another chapter.”
Fellowship is open to all members of the dental team should they meet the requirements, and suitably experienced and qualified dental professionals are encouraged to apply.
Prospective applicants may be interested to read about the career journeys of a selection of College Fellows here.
A list of College members admitted to Fellowship as at 30 June 2023 is available at https://cgdent.uk/2023/06/30/admissions-to-fellowship/
