- Denplan has launched a new initiative to develop the next generation of leaders in dentistry, bringing together a small select group of young Denplan member dentists.
- The ‘Next Gen Dental Group’ will help nurture and develop aspiring young dentists with the potential to become future industry leaders, by providing opportunities to develop their leadership skills outside the traditional clinical setting.
- The aim is to create a platform for this group to act as a national voice for young dentists, helping shape the future of the dental profession.
Denplan, part of Simplyhealth, has invited a group of nine young Denplan member dentists (under the age of 35) to join a new Next Gen Dental Group. Over the course of the 12-month programme, Denplan will offer group members mentoring, professional leadership development and the chance to establish a like-minded network that can be called upon for advice and support. The aim is to help foster a new generation of leaders in the dental sector and provide opportunities they might not otherwise have access to in their normal clinical setting.
Catherine Rutland, clinical director at Denplan and chair of the Next Gen Dental Group, says, “Denplan is committed to raising the profile of private dentists in policy-making, by advocating on their behalf and improving the understanding of dentistry more generally within government. Our new Next Gen Dental Group aims to provide the younger age group with an opportunity to start shaping dentistry policy agenda from the beginning of their careers.
“We’re working collaboratively with the group to refine our one-year programme, so that the key focus areas really meet their needs. During our initial meeting, we had invaluable discussions informed by the groups’ experiences around mentoring, career support and regulation of private practices. Together, we’re looking at the best ways to support young and upcoming dentists, as well as how we can continue to effectively highlight ongoing issues affecting the profession to government.”
Denplan is delighted to welcome the following members to the Next Gen Dental Group: Richard Alexander at Greenlaw Dental Care, Shamir Chandarana at Dental House, Gareth Crowther at Brynhyfryd Dental, Andrew Farr at Broad Street Dental, Veeren Gupta at Ferndale House Dental, Niki Keyhani at Horsham Dental Studio, Alice Martin at Lowen Dental Spa, Harbinder Singh-Dewgun at Lion House Dental Practice and Buckingham Dental, and Catherine Turner at The Walton Practice.
The second meeting, held at the end of August, will focus on mentoring and Denplan will kickstart the programme with a formal session to understand individuals’ mentoring requirements. Guest speaker and former Team GB performance psychologist Charlie Unwin will also be joining to help members reflect on their experiences of being practice/small business owners. Previously, Charlie has applied his past experience and learning about the principles of human performance and psychology in working with global organisations, Olympic athletes, Premier League football teams and businesses to help them achieve their own performance aspirations.
The Next Gen Dental Group initiative aims to continue pushing private dentistry to the front of the debate about the future of healthcare, ensuring the voices of those working within the private dental sector – in particular, future young leaders – are heard. Its formation follows the publication of Denplan’s white paper on the future of dentistry, released in Spring 2021. This extensive report covers a wide range of issues that Denplan continues to highlight and put on the agenda of government, policy makers and the wider dental profession.