The event was attended by BADN members, leaders in the dental profession and the press, and was a welcome occasion to mark the history of the association and catch up with colleagues after the original 80th anniversary celebrations were postponed due to the pandemic.

However, prior to this was the annual general meeting (AGM) – the BADN’s first hybrid event, heldface to face and via Zoom. Both the current chairman, Jane Dalgarno, and treasurer, Joan Hatchard, stood down from their respective posts, having both completed two terms in those offices. President Jacqui Elsden welcomed president-elect Debra Worthington and incoming treasurer Michelle Brand to the executive committee, and Joan Hatchard to the role of chairman.

Meanwhile, the drinks reception served as an opportunity to present BADN member Debbie Reed with the inaugural Janet Goodwin Dental Care Professional of the Year Award – an award which recognises achievement by dental care professionals in areas such as leadership, standards of professionalism and patient care, commitment to life-long learning, service to the profession and advocacy for the whole-team approach to general dental care. The BADN’s outgoing chair, Jane Dalgarno, also received recognition at the event for her contribution to the association and dental nursing as a whole.

Jacqui Elsden, president of the BADN, commented, “It is a great honour to be president of the BADN, and an even greater honour to be part of its historical milestones.

“At our 80th +1 celebration I was thrilled to celebrate Debbie Reed's fantastic accomplishments. Apart from having been a BADN member for more than 20 years and a former BADN chair, during lockdown Debbie completed a truly inspirational hat-trick. Firstly, she received a doctorate in education; secondly, she received the BADN Outstanding Contribution to Dental Nursing Professional Practice Award; and thirdly, she received the FGDP(UK) (now the College of General Dentistry) Janet Goodwin Award, presented to her at our drinks reception by Abhi Pal, president of CGDent. Debbie is a truly inspirational dental nurse of the 21st century – just having a conversation with Debbie will leave you feeling enthused and motivated.

“I was also delighted to present flowers to Jane Dalgarno, the BADN’s retiring chair, who has served the association in a number of roles – president, chair, and regional coordinator to name but a few. The BADN thanks Jane for all her hard work over the last 25 years.”

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