FEHDD Annual Session: Shaping the future of Dental Education through Empathetic Leadership

Tuesday, 25th August 2026 - 12:30 to 18:00

Add to Calendar

Timezone:

Budapest (UTC+1 winter / UTC+2 summer)

Duration:

240 minutes

Venue:

WSR1

Session type:

Type 2: Organised, planned and delivered by a subgroup, special interest group, community of practice of ADEE

Kindly supported by Colgate

Session synopsis:

The annual face to face meeting of the Forum of European Heads and Deans of Dental Schools. Progamme outline to follow.

There is much documented in the literature about dentistry and oral health professions education being at a crossroads. Increased use of technologies, virtual realities and AI, combined with changing professional boundaries as well as shifting sociodemographic and political priorities are changing our operational environment—be it clinical, research or academic.

Leadership is not just about responding to a changing environment. It must be concerned with proactively creating an effective and cohesive environment that fosters and nourishes growth and development. In our new reality with a pace of change that has not been previously experienced, achieving this is becoming a more complex and challenging task. A task further exacerbated by the seismic change in life experiences and expectations of those now entering the academic workforce in comparison to many who hold current leadership roles.

Against the backdrop of these institutional pressures—and building upon the vital sector-wide insights of the ADEE WELLdental project regarding burnout, mental well-being, and institutional resilience—this session places Empathetic Leadership at the very center of the conversation. It can be difficult to focus on fostering a supportive institutional culture while embedded in the day-to-day responsibilities of being an academic leader. This session will equip you with useful skills and expertise you can immediately utilize in your workplace to lead with emotional intelligence and deep listening.

Through a combination of panel discussion, an interactive empathy mapping workshop, and personal reflection, the session aims to give you pause for thought on how evolving your empathy skills can improve institutional well-being, mitigate academic burnout, and empower growth across your entire workforce.

We encourage those of you planning on attending to consider bringing a mentee to the session.

Programme:

*Provisional Programme*
12:30	Registration and lunch
13:30	Welcome and session overview
13:45	Role of empathy in fostering educational excellence and the key behaviours of empathic leadership
14:45	Breakout Workshop 1: Building Empathetic Leadership in Action: Knowing Yourself, Your People and Your School Culture
15:45	Coffee and networking
16:15	Workshop 2 : Leading Students with Empathy: Recognise, Understand, Act
17:30	Next steps and AOB
18:00	Reception @ EOK

Chair:

Corrado Paganelli

Dean

The Dental School, University of Brescia, Italy

Corrado Paganelli DDS, MD is currently chair of the Board of IFDEA (International Federation of Dental Educators and Associations) and FEHDD (Forum of European Heads and Deans of Dental Schools), Former President CECDO (Council of European Chief Dental Officers) and ADEE (Association for Dental Education in Europe). Dean of dental school / clinic, and previously hygienist school and orthodontic program, Erasmus coordinator for medical school at University of Brescia – Italy. President-elect of IADR Nutrition group. He also chairs the dental expert panel (Expamed) for the EU Commission of the Regulation (EU) 2017/745 on Medical Devices.

Irina Laura Chivu-Garip

Head of Scientific Affairs Europe

Colgate Palmolive Europe Sàrl

With a career spanning over 16 years, centred on corporate scientific affairs and public health, Irina Laura Chivu-Garip is currently leading scientific and public health engagement strategy for the European region at Colgate-Palmolive, securing strong scientific expertise for key oral care brands, innovating with NGOs and associations’ partnerships and developing professional education and patient behaviour change strategies for better oral health. Prior to joining industry, Irina worked as a general dentist, co-managing a private practice, and held teaching positions in Restorative Dentistry.

Speakers:

Jackie Cooper

Partner

Cooper Transformations

Jackie Cooper is a highly regarded Cognitive Hypnotherapist and NLP Master Practitioner, boasting nearly three decades of invaluable experience within the dental industry. Starting her professional journey as a dental nurse almost 30 years ago, Jackie's innate drive for innovation propelled her into the commercial domain. Here, she dedicated her efforts to pioneering advancements in oral surgery outcomes, particularly through the implementation of cutting-edge laser technologies, which she taught and supported clinicians in utilising.

In the midst of her professional endeavours, Jackie's unwavering commitment to empowering individuals to reach their full potential led her to explore the transformative realms of cognitive hypnotherapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). Recognising the profound impact these modalities could have on enhancing lives, she made the courageous decision in 2020 to embark on a journey of requalification and specialisation.

Over the span of four years, Jackie immersed herself in rigorous study and practical training, refining her skills as a Cognitive Hypnotherapist and NLP Master Practitioner under the mentorship of esteemed professionals in the field. Her relentless dedication and steadfast pursuit of mastery culminated in her acquisition of certifications as a qualified master practitioner in both disciplines.

Today, Jackie Cooper stands as a symbol of transformation, seamlessly integrating her extensive background in dentistry with her expertise in cognitive reprogramming techniques. Operating her private practice, Jackie works closely with clients on a one-to-one basis, employing her skills to reframe old memories and alleviate unwanted trauma.

Furthermore, Jackie extends her impact through workshops covering a diverse range of topics, including trauma management, anxiety recognition, stress management, and the intricacies of the human mind. Through her unwavering dedication to personal growth and holistic well-being, Jackie continues to inspire positive change and facilitate profound transformations in the lives of those she serves.

Shannu Bhatia

Clinical Reader and Honorary consultant Paediatric dentist.

School of Dentistry Cardiff University, UK

Dr Shannu Bhatia is a Clinical Reader and Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry at Cardiff University. She is the lead for Paediatric dentistry at Cardiff University. She chairs the Community of Practice of Wellbeing and Resilience at the Association of Dental Education in Europe. She has a Master’s both in Medical Education and in Clinical dentistry and is an examiner for the Royal College of Surgeons. She holds the fellowship of the Learned Society of Wales, the Academy of Medical Educators, the Royal College of Surgeons (Paediatric Dentistry) and a Senior Fellowship of Higher Education Academy.

Her interests include dental education, dental management of children with complex needs and wellbeing of staff and students. As the immediate past President of British Society of Paediatric dentistry, she advocates for improvements in oral health of children.

She is an active clinically and academically and provides specialist consultant led treatment for children under local anaesthesia, inhalation sedation and general anaesthesia.

Learning Outcomes:

Examine the role of empathy in fostering educational excellence, including its influence on staff and student wellbeing, experienc and engagement
Analyse the key behaviours, attributes and practices associated with empatchitic leadership in eductaion settings.
Reflect critically on their own leadership approach and identity oppportunities to strengthen empathetic leadership practices within their prfessional context
Demonstrate the application of empatchetic leadership behaviours when engaged with staff and students for effectice communication and compassionate decision making
Implement strategies for translating empathy into action to support staff, enhance student success and promote a positive learning environment
Develop a personal action plan for embedding empathy into everyday leadership practice

You are here