​The BADN 2020 Outstanding Contribution to Dental Nursing Professional Practice Award was presented to Dr Debbie Reed at the BADN 80th Anniversary Virtual Afternoon Tea.

Dr Reed, a former BADN Chairman, trained as a dental nurse at the Royal Navy School of Dental Training in 1987.

She went on to hold varying clinical and non-clinical posts over the next 20 years, working with all three Armed Force organisations, in the UK and overseas, until she left the Royal Navy in 2007 and joined the staff at the University of Kent.

Dr Reed graduated from the University of Southampton with a BA (Hons) in Post Compulsory Education, gaining an MSc in Human Resource Development from the University of Portsmouth’s Business School. Her teaching qualifications include a post graduate teaching certificate in Higher Education from the University of Kent and a Certificate in Post Compulsory Education from the University of Southampton. In 2011 she was awarded Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy and in 2008 Chartered Member status with the Chartered Institute of Personal Development. She is registered with the General Dental Council and holds a number of additional professional and vocational qualifications and awards in education, leadership and management.

In terms of publications and development work, Dr Reed authored the Teamwork and Leadership module for the joint National Health Service and the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) EDEN e-learning project in 2011 and in 2009 served as part of the General Dental Council’s Dental Nurse Project Feedback Group; developing new learning outcomes for dental nurse registration. Other contributions include the KSS Postgraduate Dental Deanery DNART project in 2009 and the Faculty of General Practice (UK) Teamwork 7 training package, published in 2007. She remains a member of the panel of examiners for the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses since 1996, an affiliate member of the FGDP (UK) and Module Convenor Teamwork Module Faculty of General Dental Practice MSc in Primary Dental Care since 2008. She regularly publishes in dental journals; her articles are aimed at raising awareness of some of the broader professional characteristic and issues relevant to dental nursing and extending the professionalisation of dental nursing as it emerges as a dental profession.

Full nomination available at www.badn.org.uk.

In presenting the Award to Dr Reed, BADN President Jacqui Elsden said: 'It gives me great pleasure to present the 2020 BADN Outstanding Service to Dental Nursing Professional Practice Award to Dr Debbie Reed. Over the last twenty five years or more, Debbie has contributed to the advancement of Dental Nurses across many areas of dentistry and has not only inspired myself to achieve my potential but has inspired many others to do so and has recently acquired her doctorate in Education, one of only a handful of dental nurses to do so.

Dr Reed said: 'I am delighted to have been nominated and to have received such a precious award from the British Association of Dental Nurses as it celebrates its 80^th anniversary.

'I am honoured to be acknowledged for the contribution I have made, in respect to extending the career possibilities for dental nurses through education and development. I am humbled to know that I have been an inspiration to others. As an academic and a Doctor of Education, I am reassured to know that my work and research is valued, and moreover has had a practical application, in terms of the transformational opportunities it has provided, and will continue to provide, to those employed in the dental sector. It is a privilege to have been recognised by my dental nurse peers, so a heartfelt thank you to BADN and all the dental nurses that BADN so magnificently represents.'

Author: Julie Bissett