Membership helps me stay clued up and plan my career

Throughout her working life, membership has helped Katie Davis at several key stages.

“On the website there is lots of useful advice for members who are associates,” says Katie, who has been working as a self-employed dentist for five years, and a BDA member since her student days.

Crucially, membership helped when she needed reassurance that a new contract gave her fair terms, as she could refer to our associate contract downloads.

“When I changed jobs I found that a lot of employers use the BDA template for associate contracts, so I relaxed a bit more when I saw that and you have peace of mind knowing if a contract is fair.”

Katie also appreciates the targeted advice for different stages of life too, such as when starting a family. She says,

“The maternity advice was good to help plan, and to know my rights.”

It is a time where there are so many things to think about and communicate, and being able to prepare can give new parents more of a sense of calm.

A wealth of up-to-date information and learning

For local and regional news and events, Katie advises making the most of the website.

“Most of what I read on the website is specific to Wales; there is information about representation and webinars, and I circulate that kind of content on group chats where people are keen to share information.”

Katie also regularly completes CPD and, as a member, can access it all in one place.

"Recently I have done the safeguarding course on the CPD Hub, the online journals also have quizzes to get CPD.”

Using the CPD Hub is an easy way to keep up with the GDC’s evolving requirements, clinical advances, and treatment techniques.

The importance of having a community

Katie has been able to see how membership builds connections since she was a student.

“My parents were both union members in their industries, so I was already switched on to how useful union membership is in terms of having a network of peers. During university, there were always events organised by or in association with the BDA like sports days and conferences and I helped with them.”

As she entered the workforce, Katie was able to see what her peers were doing, while trying different things to find out what suited her.

“General practice was something I really enjoyed, so I took a job working some days privately and some days NHS.”

During that time, Katie was glad of the local connections she had already made.

“Some of my supervisors who I had kept in touch with from university encouraged me to stand as a BDA representative in Swansea. Now I am on different committees representing dentists in Wales, and young dentists.”

Katie believes that strong professional connections are essential in dentistry, and for her that begins with BDA membership.

“For me, being a member is an essential part of having a career in dentistry and being part of that community. It is about staying clued up with what is going on in the field and having a network around you, in my case for associate dentist support.”

Going it alone could be stressful, warns Katie.

“If you do not have that network and are just in your own bubble it can be really isolating and difficult to navigate.”

Katie says when you are part of the BDA, you have a better understanding of what is happening on the ground.

"I think maintaining contact with dentists all over the UK has helped me to feel more confident about what is coming next because you can share information and learn from each other.”

A career without membership and associate dentist support would have been harder

Without membership; Katie’s career would have looked quite different.

“I would have been much more isolated without membership. I may not even have wanted to progress in my career without reassurance from that community of dentists, and the confidence that comes with it.”

She emphasises that having close contact with other dentists is a good way to forge a path in the way that suits you, and feel certain that you are going in the right direction with associate dentist support.

“Having a network of people to rely on means that if you are ever unsure of something, there is normally somebody that can help and guide you. For me, BDA membership is not simply about access to resources, I see it as an essential foundation for a flourishing career in dentistry.”