BACD welcomes new President

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Posted by: Dental Design 24th December 2023

The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD) is recognised across the globe as a leading organisation in the field of cosmetic and restorative dentistry. Taking the helm of the Academy as of November 2023, Dr Luke Hutchings will be building upon the work achieved so far.

Luke first joined the BACD in 2011, after attending a yearlong training course with BACD co-founder, Chris Orr. Luke says:

“A comment from Chris about how we could continue to improve our education and skill set further at the BACD caught my attention. I attended the next BACD Annual Conference a few months later and thoroughly enjoyed both the education and social side, hence, I decided to join the following Recommended Meeting too. These provided opportunities to meet various people throughout the organisation. Finding everyone so welcoming and genuine quickly inspired me to become involved at committee level for the Academy. I had the chance to take on several roles on the Education Committee, before being elected as a member of the BACD board, a position I have held for the past 8 years. Colleagues kindly thought me a good fit for Presidency so I had no choice but to humbly accept.”

There are many benefits to being a member of the BACD, not least of which is access to the various educational events on offer. The Annual Conference is a highlight of the calendar for many cosmetic dentists in the UK and abroad, with an array of specialists and world-class speakers presenting seminars and hands-on workshops each year.

However, this is just one side of the Academy. The other side is very much one of community and support, with a network of likeminded clinicians and team members coming together to share ideas, experiences and best practice.

“For me, world class education is a given, but the networking opportunities provide one of the greatest benefits of being involved with the BACD,” Luke continues. “I have always valued finding my work family of like-minded colleagues within the BACD, for both professional and personal reasons. Many of the people I socialise with outside of work, I originally met through the BACD – including several of my closest friends. In work, being able to connect with a vast range of colleagues offers a level of support you can’t achieve on your own. Dentistry can be a very insular profession, so being able to step out of the surgery and see how other people think can be very valuable. Whether I have had the same opinion as others or not, discussions had during or after events – including at the bar in the evening – have often taught me as much as the lectures or training courses themselves.

“In addition, I am a firm believer that we should all celebrate each other’s successes and help to raise and elevate each other to better and brighter things. I am always happy to hear that a friend or colleague has done well and having a network of professionals who share this ethos is important to me.”

As the new President of the BACD, Luke is looking to build on what has been started by those that came before him. He will be continuing to drive the organisation forwards, following the 5-year strategic plan set out by many of the incumbent board. He comments:

“I’m not looking to reinvent the wheel. We have already identified how we want the BACD to grow – such as providing more free education for members by reinvesting in this area, for example. My goal remains the same as Simon before me and Sam after me – to increase the number and quality of member benefits available in a way that is most useful to our members. I also hope to help expand the social activities alongside our educational events like Recommended Meetings so there is always a social element to bolster that community feel throughout the Academy.

“Personally, I want to act reflectively in my role as BACD President. I am grateful for the people that stood before me and appreciative of the opportunity to help further grow an Academy that so many have already worked so hard for. Our collective goal is to keep the BACD as one of the strongest Academies in Europe, respecting what we have achieved so far and driving further success.”

For anyone not yet a member of the BACD, these are just some of the reasons to join what has become a thriving community of dental professionals. Upcoming events that are already proving popular include the inaugural ski trip ‘BA-Ski-D’ being held in Davos Switzerland from 31^st Jan-4^th Feb 2024. What could be better than a few days in the company of Water Devoto from Style Italiano talking all things composite combined with sliding on snow and eating strudel?