‘Learning from the best!’ with Dr Jürgen Fedderwitz
Dr Jürgen Fedderwitz
Chair of the FDI Education Committee
As chair of the FDI Education Committee, you lead the set-up of the scientific programme for the World Dental Congress. Tell us a bit about this process – for you, what makes an outstanding scientific programme?
The members of the Education Committee usually begin the planning two years before, which requires an ambitious amount of teamwork. Our goal is to organize a unique and special scientific programme with an overview of state-of-the-art advancements in dentistry.
Each member of the committee submits proposals for topics and possible speakers and lecturers. For this we have some guiding criteria: new results in science and research, as well as reporting on technological progress.
We also give special consideration to public health matters. Depending on the country where the World Dental Congress takes place, we consider possible treatment needs of the patients and the professional interests of the dentists in that region. Oral health priorities differ depending on the country and the context and we like to recognize this.
Here at the Education Committee, we come from all over the world, so we have a pretty good overview of excellent and highly recommended scientists and dentists from many different countries. Our motto is: Learning from the best!
Depending on the country where the World Dental Congress takes place, we consider possible treatment needs of the patients and the professional interests of the dentists in that region.
Do you have certain speakers in mind that you are particularly looking forward to learning from?
Our FDI speaker invitation list is more international than usual this year, with lots of highlights. As you know, antimicrobial resistance is a severe, worldwide problem. We will have a joint session called Antibiotics from a Global Point of View - Significance in Dental Medicine with Annelies Zinkernagel and Bernd Stadlinger, excellent speakers from Zurich University in Switzerland, as well as Georgios Belibasakis from the Swedish Karolinska Institutet. Michael Bornstein, from Hong Kong, is invited to give several lectures - one topic is radiology. Franceso Maggiore, from Italy, will attend the Congress with his expertise in endodontics. Edward Lo, from Hong Kong, will share his expertise in Community Oral Health and Health Policy.
Why is continuing education for oral health professionals important? How does the World Dental Congress contribute to lifelong learning for oral health professionals?
Dental science and research are advancing and ever-evolving, which brings us lots of new possibilities in diagnosis and treatment.
Lifelong learning is part of a professional promise that dentists make to their patients to treat them well and to care for their oral health – and contribute to their general health.
Our patients also expect us to participate in the latest progress made in dentistry. Only continuing education can fulfil these claims and expectations.
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The World Dental Congress (WDC) is a flagship event for FDI, strengthening ties and fostering collaboration within the global oral health community.
