CDS Group West Midlands Division - Bridging the gap - Multidisciplinary pathways in community dentistry

Owens is a Specialty Trainee in Special Care Dentistry with Community Dental Services CIC, Bedfordshire. Before qualifying in dentistry, he practised as a pharmacist in acute mental health and community pharmacy settings, giving him a unique perspective on multidisciplinary care. Alongside his clinical training, he has a strong interest in healthcare leadership, service improvement and digital transformation. He is a Fellow of the Chief Dental Officer's Clinical Fellowship Scheme, a Cohort Director with the Healthcare Leadership Academy, and a participant in the NHS England Digital Healthcare Leadership Programme.

Dominic Laverty is a registered specialist in Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics, and Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at Birmingham Dental Hospital and Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. He graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2011 and completed specialty training in Restorative Dentistry at Birmingham Dental Hospital, alongside a Master of Research from the University of Birmingham. In 2019, he was awarded Membership in Prosthodontics (MPros RCS Ed) and Fellowship in Restorative Dentistry (FDS Rest Dent). His clinical interests include head and neck cancer rehabilitation, developmental dental abnormalities, and complex restorative care. He is also actively involved in postgraduate dental education and training.

Sat was appointed as an Oral and Maxillofacial /Head and Neck /Reconstructive Surgeon at the University Hospital of Birmingham in 2003. He is one of the directors of the European Head and Neck Course and the Head and Neck Oncology for Surgeons courses. He is a former board member for the European Head and Neck Society and previously sat on the steering committee for the Make Sense Campaign. He was a council member for the British Association of Head and Neck Oncologists (BAHNO) and Past President for the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Sat was a council member for the International Association of Oral Oncology. He was the chair for AOCMF for the United Kingdom and a former European Board member for AO. He has chaired and directed numerous AO and other courses. 

He has been elected as chair for AOCMF for Europe and a trustee for several charities. He is the author of numerous book chapters and publications. He has also edited several books. He has organised multiple national and international meetings. Sat has over 100 peer reviewed publications and given over 100 keynote lectures.

His work has been filmed in several Television documentaries that include “Surgeons: the edge of life” featured on BB2 and Surgeons: Life and Death featured on Channel 5.

He has been awarded the BAOMS and Downs Prizes by the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons for contribution to the specialty. Sat was awarded the MBE for services to Head and Neck Cancer.

He carries out most aspects of general Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery but his sub-specialist interest is Salivary Gland/Head and Neck Cancer and Reconstruction. He also has an interest in implant rehabilitation for head and neck cancer patients

Rachel qualified in both dentistry and medicine from the University of Birmingham completing medical training in the West Midlands. She currently works as a Specialty Dentist in Oral Surgery at the Dental Hospital and as a Specialty Doctor in Palliative Medicine at Birmingham Hospice (St. Mary’s). She loves to maintain the link between the two by education of under and post graduates in both fields. She is also passionate about faith, family and being an advocate for the Deaf community including BSL and improving deaf awareness within the NHS to reduce barriers for staff and patients who are D/deaf or hard of hearing.