Turning Vision 2020 into an action plan – Chicago/ADA

February 23, 2013

The taskforce Vision 2020 met in Chicago at the American Dental Association (ADA) headoffice.

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We thank the ADA for all the collaboration and support.

From the FDI – World Dental Federation, the participants were Orlando Monteiro da Silva (president), Kathryn Kell (treasurer), Patrick Hescot (concilor), Gerhard Seeberger (councilor), Jean-Luc Eiselé (executive director) and Emmanuel Chevron (associate director). From the International Association for Dental Research (IADR), were Michael Glick and David Williams (IADR).

And industry partners: Christian Brutzer (Ivoclar), Gerard Meuchner (Henry Schein), Robert Labella (Johnson&Johnson), Mike Butler (Colgate), Analia Mendez (Unilever), Mayumi Kaneda (Sunstar), Friedrich A. Herbst (IDM).

This was a great opportunity to share ideas and suggestions for an operationalisation of Vision 2020 in the months and years to come.

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At the Chicago’s Millennium Park, with “The Bean” behind


أشكرك أيتها المملكة العربية السعودية ، القصيم. Thank you Saudi Arabia!

February 15, 2013

The city of Buraidah has always had the honor to host the event. This year, the fifth Dental students scientific meeting (5th DSSM) was held at the King Khalid Cultural Center.

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As guest speaker, I had the pleasure to present to a vast audience the FDI Vision 2020, shaping the future of oral health. Afterwards I responded to several questions placed by the students.

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Receiving, on behalf of the FDI, an recognition award under the auspices of honor if his Royal Highnness, Prince Dr. Faisal Bin Meshal Al Saud, also vice Governor of Qassim Province.

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Thanking on behalf of the FDI.

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With Mohammed Almohaimeed, dean of the College of Dentistry Qassim University.

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With Yousef Al-Khodair, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia National Board Health Affairs.

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During a scientific session.

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Addressing the audience about the FDI role on “Leading the world to optimal oral health”.

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Omar Al Abood, a saudi dental student, translating an interview for a nation tv channel.

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Students at the dental exhibition.

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Tower City Buraidah. Buraidah is the capital of Al-Qassim Province in northcentral Saudi Arabia in the heart of the Arabian peninsula. Buraidah lies equidistant from the Red Sea to the west and the Gulf to the east. It has a population of 609,000 (2010 census).

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Informal meeting with several dental students associations from Saudi Arabia.

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Irina F. Dragan, teaching assistant at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.

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Pavel Scarlet, president of the International Association of Dental Students (IADS).

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Giving the FDI Oral Health Atlas to Sulaiman Saleh Al Reshaid, president of congress board of directors.

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In the desert with the dental students.

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Sunset in the desert.

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Having tea in a tent in the desert.

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After a meeting about the Saudi Arabi oral health strategy. With Hassan S. Halawany (left) and Solaiman M. Al-Hadlaq (right), both experts in health management and policy, from the King Saud University, Riyadh.

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Night in the desert.

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Thank you Buraidah!


Prevention: the best option in times of austerity

January 31, 2013

Live.Learn.Laugh is being implemented in 29 countries in one of four formats, selected according to local needs. There are currently two projects underway in Greece, both targeting pre-school children.

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Prevention is at the heart of both projects: “Twice daily brushing with a fluoride toothpaste” to improve oral health.

Part of my presentation in Athens, the 29 last January:

…”We are holding this workshop in Athens at a time of ‘austerity’. As a dental practitioner in Portugal, I, like my colleagues in Ireland, Greece, Spain, Cyprus, and others am acutely aware of the impact of cutbacks in government spending on health services in general and, in particular, what is (wrongly) perceived as non-urgent or to-be-postponed care, for example oral health care.

In the face of this, the best option is: prevention. Much of what is termed ‘prevention’ focuses on individual behaviour. For more than a year now, FDI, in cooperation with four other medical associations comprising physicians, physical therapists, pharmacists and nurses, has been targeting individual behaviour in the prevention of noncommunicable diseases”…


FDI Congress at the NY Times Global Edition

December 31, 2012

istanbul2013Dear Colleagues and Friends of the FDI and of the global health community, we successfully held our 100th Congress this year in Hong Kong. I wish you a happy 2013 and all the best for the FDI. See you in Istambul, for the Centenary +1 FDI Anual World Dental Congress.

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FDI and Sunstar in Etoy, Geneva

December 10, 2012

During my last stay in FDI Geneva, I had the pleasure to visit Sunstar head office in Etoy, Switzerland.

Sunstar is a leading global company in the Mouth & Body Care field,eg GUM, Butler and Ora2.

We had the opportunity to share FDI’s projects, namely Vision 2020 and take notice of Sunstar global approach and Sunstar Foundation.

Curious, the designation of the company started from the concept of brushing teeth twice daily, in the morning, Sun and in the evening, Star…

Thanks to Mayumi, Mayur and Shigeki for a wonderful reception to the FDI!

From left to right, Jean Luc Eiselé, FDI executive director, Mayumi Kaneda, diretor of Sunstar Foundation and Global Public Relations, me, Emmanuel Chevron, Associate Director, Business Development & Corporate Relations of the FDI, and Mayur V. Dixit, Global Professional Relations and Scientific Affairs.From left to right, Jean Luc Eiselé, FDI executive director, Mayumi Kaneda, diretor of Sunstar Foundation and Global Public Relations, me, Emmanuel Chevron, Associate Director, Business Development & Corporate Relations of the FDI, and Mayur V. Dixit, Global Professional Relations and Scientific Affairs.

From left to right, Jean Luc Eiselé, FDI executive director, Mayumi Kaneda, diretor of Sunstar Foundation and Global Public Relations, me, Emmanuel Chevron, Associate Director, Business Development & Corporate Relations of the FDI, and Mayur V. Dixit, Global Professional Relations and Scientific Affairs.From left to right, Jean Luc Eiselé, FDI executive director, Mayumi Kaneda, diretor of Sunstar Foundation and Global Public Relations, me, Emmanuel Chevron, Associate Director, Business Development & Corporate Relations of the FDI, and Mayur V. Dixit, Global Professional Relations and Scientific Affairs.

With Mayumi Kaneda.

With Mayumi Kaneda.


6th Moscow International Dental Exhibition MosExpoDental

November 18, 2012

By mutual invitation of the CEO of the 6th Moscow International Dental Exhibition MosExpoDental, Lina Vartanyan, and the president of Russian Dental Association, Vladimir Sadovski, I have been in Moscow last November.

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Opening of the exhibition.

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Group photo at the opening. On my right, the CEO Lina Vartanyan, and on my left, Prof. Sadovski, president of Russian Dental Association.

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Meeting of the FDI-ERO Working Group Integration, which I had the honor to open. Participants focused in particular on the Europe-wide standardization of several aspects of the profession as well as local approaches to pan-European issues, such as recognition of diplomas – with a view to increasing the professional mobility of dentists – oral health policy and academic training.

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The chair of the working group (WG) and FDI National Liaison Officer, Elena Ivanova, from Russia, with the chief dental officer of the Ministry of Health Care of Russian Federation and rector of the Moscow State Univesity of Medicine and Dentistry, Prof. Oleg Yanushevich, on her right, and Vladimer Margvelashvili, from Georgia, member of the WG and chair of the FDI Communication Committe, on her left.

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In the frames of the meeting, took place an exchange of view from presidents from Eastern European countries. Most of them, Russian speaking language, such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and also Ukrania, Armenia and Georgia.

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I had the opportunity, as lecturer invited to the ongoing parallel congress “Innovations in Dentistry”, to deliver a presentation about FDI Vision 2020 – challenges of National Dental Associations.

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Group photo of all the participants, at the end.


Oral-B Symposium – Madrid

September 28, 2012

By invitation of Oral-B, I had the opportunity to present the FDI Vision 2020 to an important group of dental professionals, in Madrid, early this month.

With renowned iberian opinion leaders in the field of dentistry

Mariano Sanz, professor from Universid Complutense de Madrid, UCM, charing the session


Thank you Hong Kong for the 100th FDI AWDC!

September 4, 2012

多謝香港舉行第一百屆FDl世界牙醫聯盟週年會議。

It is now more than one month since the 100th FDI Annual World Dental Congress drew to a close in Hong Kong: I would like to take this opportunity to look back and draw some conclusions and share my thoughts on where FDI is headed during the coming years.

A little bit of FDI history by the occasion of the 100th congress in Hong Kong.

“The dentist is a little like the sentinel at the door of the human citadel, part of its defence with physicians and surgeons; often it is he who sounds the first alarm the the whole organism is in danger. He protects the region he is charged to guard against disease. If it is destroyed he restores it and re-establishes it to such a degree as to restore a physiological function believed lost. (…) So it can be said that dentistry is the most specialized, the most distinctive and the most autonomous among the medical sciences.”, FDI President, Charles Godon, inaugurating the founding of FDI (in 1900).

Opening ceremony entrance.

Opening ceremony entrance.

Group photo with local authorities, FDI officers and local organizing committee before the ceremony.

Group photo with local authorities, FDI officers and local organizing committee before the ceremony.

With Leung Chun-ying, Hong Kong prime minister.

With Leung Chun-ying, Hong Kong prime minister.

Formal opening of the ceremony.

Formal opening of the ceremony.

Recognition by the World Health Organization: In a recorded address, to the FDI 2012 Hong Kong Welcome Ceremony, WHO Director-General, Dr. Margaret Chan, paid tribute to the dental profession as a pioneer in the concept of preventive medicine—bearing in mind that prevention is cited as the main weapon in the fight against NCDs—and highlighted to role and outreach of specific projects such as Live.Learn.Laugh.


A message from Margaret Chan, general director of WHO

Political visibility: FDI managed to attain a high level of political visibility among the authorities of both the People’s Republic of China and its Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong. This was especially apparent at the Welcome Ceremony, held in the presence of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong and the Chinese Minister of Health. FDI awarded the latter a special Award for his contribution to oral health in China.

Awarding Chen Zhu, Chinese Minister of Health.

Awarding Chen Zhu, Chinese Minister of Health.

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From left to right, Sigmund Leung, president of HKDA and chairperson of the local organising committee, Leung Chun-ying, Hong Kong prime minister, Chen Zhu, China Health Minister, me and Jean-Luc Eiselé.

From left to right, Sigmund Leung, president of HKDA and chairperson of the local organising committee, Leung Chun-ying, Hong Kong prime minister, Chen Zhu, China Health Minister, me and Jean-Luc Eiselé.

Roll call of nations.

Roll call of nations.

Audience from all over the world.

Audience from all over the world.

Good luck...

Good luck…

Vision 2020: A high level of consensus was in evidence among the 300 or so General Assembly delegates at Vision 2020’s first reading. But it also generated a lively discussion on the role of the profession and it was an opportunity to reinforce our vision of the dentist as the leader of the dental team: Delegation – Yes; Substitution – No. Bearing in mind that the document was drafted, debated by all our members and committees, revised, and presented in something less than a year, this is quite an achievement. The dental profession worldwide now has an overarching vision of its future and can set about designing the policies and strategies that will get us where we want to be by 2020.

FDI Vision 2020 press conference.

FDI Vision 2020 press conference. From left to right, Stanley M. Bergman, chairman and CEO of Henry Schein Inc, Tao Xu, Professor and Dean, School of Stomatology Peking University (China), myself, Michael Glick, chair of the Vision 2020 Task Team, Analia Mendez, global director of Health Programmes & Partnerships for Oral Care and Household Care categories in Unilever.

Local and international media at the press conference.

Local and international media at the press conference.

Forum Session 1 - Vision 2020.

Forum Session 1 – Vision 2020.

These are just a few examples of how FDI has made and is making its voice heard through advocacy for better oral health at a global level. Its impact is also felt through global channels of social communication as well as reports from Hong Kong in the world media such as China Daily and the New York Times, among others. Our aim is to pursue this strategy, in line with the requirements and resolutions of the General Assembly.

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World Oral Health Forum: the inaugural edition of this new and innovative FDI event provided a real opportunity for a number of FDI stakeholders, including the dental industry, to freely discuss issues of concern. The presentations took place within the context of the General Assembly—i.e. we were taking advantage of the presence of a significant number of member national dental associations—but outside its political ramifications, that is, interventions were on a personal level and did not reflect a ‘national approach’. The event’s format proved a huge success for future congresses.

Forum Session 2 - Caries, a silent epidemic.

Forum Session 2 – Caries, a silent epidemic.

Forum Session 3 - Sustainable Development and Green Dentistry.

Forum Session 3 – Sustainable Development and Green Dentistry.

Addressing the General Assembly A.

Addressing the General Assembly A.

Delegates at the General Assembly.

Delegates at the General Assembly.

With Mitsuo Okubo, president of the Japan Dental Association.

With Mitsuo Okubo, president of the Japan Dental Association.

Portuguese Dental Association delegation.

Portuguese Dental Association delegation.

Highly participated discussion.

Highly participated discussion.

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome new FDI member associations from Argentina, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Georgia, Germany, Mozambique, and the United Kingdom. I would also like to congratulate all individuals working within FDI who were elected to posts of responsibility during the 2012 General Assembly.

With Silvio Cecchetto, president of the Brazilian Association of Dentists, ABCD.

With Silvio Cecchetto, president of the Brazilian Association of Dentists, ABCD.

FDI staff.

FDI staff.

Young Dentist Worldwide forum.

Young Dentist Worldwide forum.

Me, FDI president-elect, TC Wong, and executive director, Jean-Luc Eiselé, among young dentists.

Me, FDI president-elect, TC Wong, and executive director, Jean-Luc Eiselé, among young dentists.

Colgate media briefing "Bright Smiles, Bright Futures" Oral Health Education Program.

Colgate media briefing “Bright Smiles, Bright Futures” Oral Health Education Program.

Group photo at the Unilever booth.

Group photo at the Unilever booth.

Congress participants.

Congress participants.

Scientific posters.

Scientific posters.

Scientific session.

Scientific session.

Now we can look forward to moving onwards and upwards at our 101st Annual World Dental Congress, to be held in Istanbul from 28 to 31 August 2013, under the brand name FDI 2013 Istanbul and theme ‘Bridging Continents for Oral Health’.

Taner Yücel, president of the Turkish Dental Association presenting the 101st FDI AWDC in Istanbul, 2013.

Taner Yücel, president of the Turkish Dental Association presenting the 101st FDI AWDC in Istanbul, 2013.

From Hong Kong to Istanbul. Sigmund Leung, myself and Taner Yücel.

From Hong Kong to Istanbul. Sigmund Leung, myself and Taner Yücel.

From 28 to 31 August 2013.

From 28 to 31 August 2013.


Labai ačiū Lietuvos Odontologų rūmų tarybai (Many thanks Lithuania Dental Council!)

June 15, 2012

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A typical Lithuanian architecture style on my way to Druskininkai.

A typical Lithuanian architecture style on my way to Druskininkai.

A toast at a very warm welcome reception.

A toast at a very warm welcome reception.

The Lithuanian Dental Chamber president, Anastazija Tutkuvienė, acknowledging the Council by the end of her mandate.

The Lithuanian Dental Chamber president, Anastazija Tutkuvienė, acknowledging the Council by the end of her mandate.

At my “Oral Health Policy” presentation. Moderators were Edmondas Ratkus (left) and Prof. Balciuniene (right).

At my “Oral Health Policy” presentation. Moderators were Edmondas Ratkus (left) and Prof. Balciuniene (right).

Opening ceremony and elections for the new the Lithuanian Dental Camber. A. Šeikus was elected as president, A. Tutkuvienė, the current president, and P. Ralys became vice-presidents. Congratulations and wishes to all the elected a very prosperous mandate.

Opening ceremony and elections for the new the Lithuanian Dental Camber. A. Šeikus was elected as president, A. Tutkuvienė, the current president, and P. Ralys became vice-presidents. Congratulations and wishes to all the elected a very prosperous mandate.

At my left, Anastazija Tutkuvienė, former Lithuanian Dental Chamber president (2004-2012). On the right, the new president, Alvydas Šeikus.

At my left, Anastazija Tutkuvienė, former Lithuanian Dental Chamber president (2004-2012). On the right, the new president, Alvydas Šeikus.

Round table "Baltic Oral Health Strategy 2012-2020", with representatives of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia.

Round table “Baltic Oral Health Strategy 2012-2020”, with representatives of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia.

Lithuanian vice minister of Health, Audrius Klišonis.

Lithuanian vice minister of Health, Audrius Klišonis.

On the left, Nerija Stasiulienė, Head of Departament of Justice.

On the left, Nerija Stasiulienė, Head of Departament of Justice.

Jonas Bartlingas, Head of the Healh Care Resources, Ministry of Health.

Jonas Bartlingas, Head of the Healh Care Resources, Ministry of Health.

Group photo after the round table.

Group photo after the round table.

Lithuania delegation.

Lithuania delegation.

Estonia delegation.

Estonia delegation.

Latvia delegation.

Latvia delegation.

With new and past Lithuanian Dental Chamber presidents.

With new and past Lithuanian Dental Chamber presidents.

Congress exposition.

Congress exposition.

It was my second visit to Lithuania. One thing I’m sure: I will be back again!

 

Please, you can also check some external pages about my visit to Lithuania:


با تشکر از شما ایرانیان عزیز! (Thank you Iran)

May 16, 2012

This trip for me illustrates more than any other done so far the ‘quiet’ force of FDI, uniting people in a common cause, oral health, transcending borders and transcending politics.

Azadi Monument, in Tehran.

Azadi Monument, in Tehran.

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