Meet the President

The President does not undertake an executive role but represents the BDA at appropriate meetings and events in the UK and overseas. The President also offers counsel through attendance at meetings of the board.

 

The current president of the BDA is Dave Cottam.

Dave Cottam

BDS LDS RCS MFGDP

Dave qualified in 1979 from Birmingham University and gained the Diploma in General Dental Practice in 1983. He is a specialist in Oral Surgery.

He has worked in General Dental Practice in Birmingham for 46 years: 30 years as a principal and then as an associate after selling the practice in 2010.

Dave was a part-time practitioner at Birmingham Dental Hospital for over 30 years teaching and supervising students in oral surgery and was a part-time specialist practitioner.

He has been a member of Birmingham LDC for 40 years and is a past chair.

Since qualifying Dave has been a continuous member of the BDA. He is a member of the executive of Central Counties Branch, was president 2014-2016 and a representative on English Council 2015-2017.

He was elected to the GDPC in 2012, then sat on the Executive Committee, was Vice Chair to John Milne and Henrik Overgaard-Nielsen and elected as Chair for 2019-2021.

Dave was involved in many meetings and discussions regarding prototypes and contract reform and was at the forefront of negotiations affecting colleagues during the outbreak of Covid.

He strongly believes that the current method of payment for activity in the NHS needs to change with greater emphasis on prevention of periodontal disease