Following a four-year hiatus, the BDA Hospitals Group West Midlands Division Study Day made a successful return on 22 February 2024 at the Birmingham Dental Hospital. With anticipation running high, a cohort of 15 junior staff, carefully selected through abstract submissions, showcased their presentation skills across various dental specialties from paediatrics to maxillofacial surgery.

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The winners (left to right): Malaaika, Nabeela, Riya and Aya

Mr John Turner, committee president and consultant orthodontist, set the tone with a warm welcome, introducing each presenter, the guest speaker, and the panel of four judges. The guest speaker this year was Dr Rachel Walker who is a Specialty Doctor in Supportive and Palliative Medicine as well as a Specialty Dentist in Oral Surgery. She provided valuable insights on the topic of ‘The Medical-Dental Interface: Managing medically complex patients in an ageing population'.

Attendees engaged in compelling presentations competing for the Ivor Whitehead Prize. Each presentation was followed by a five-minute active discussion with both the audience and panel of judges who were committed to ensuring accuracy, holding presenters to high standards. Thank you for the time and support extended by the panel of judges: Mrs Sarah McKaig (Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry), Ms Katy Martin (Consultant Oral Surgeon), Mr Yogesh Bulsara (Specialist in Oral Surgery and Special Care Dentistry), and Mr Hugo Whitehead (General Dental Practitioner and Practice Owner).

The presentations encompassed a diverse range of topics, predominantly featuring distinctive cases which trainees were directly involved with. Subjects ranged from the medical management of congenital ranulas and buccal furcation cysts, to tracheomegaly. Amongst the highlights was a discussion on a fascinating case of Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome, commemorating the centennial since its initial naming in 1924.

The task of selecting winners fell to the panel of judges. Their deliberations, though challenging, reflected the high calibre of presentations delivered throughout the day.

In the end, Nabeela Caratela claimed the top prize with her presentation on her case report ‘Technique tips for the management of complicated crown fractures in children'.

Meanwhile, Malaaika Al-Koky's innovative project on creating a new standard operating procedure for clinical photography at the Birmingham Dental Hospital titled ‘Lights, camera, action: making snappy changes in photography' earned her a well-deserved second prize.

Third prize was shared by Riya Patel for her pertinent case report on ‘Osteoma of the jaws - The first clinical sign of Gardner's Syndrome' and Aya Shammout for her thorough audit on ‘Radiographic outcomes for alveolar bone grafts performed in 2022 at the Birmingham Children's Hospital'.

As the event drew to a close, Mr John Turner expressed gratitude to all participants, highlighting the invaluable learning experiences and high quality oral presentations shared throughout the day.

A feedback survey, completed by 36 attendees, showed 100% satisfaction with the event overall. When prompted to highlight their favourite aspects of the occasion, most respondents mentioned the seamless organisation of the day and the diversity of presentations. Similarly, when asked about the most valuable takeaway from the event, attendees emphasised the wealth of information acquired throughout the day, along with newfound insights into audit ideas and presentation techniques.

As the committee secretary, along with Mr Turner and Dr Sarah Martin (committee treasurer), I extend our gratitude to all presenters for their valuable contributions. Thank you to all attendees for joining us, and we encourage trainees to maintain their active involvement in future events.