Association for Dental Education in Europe

Learning together to improve oral health and quality of life

Oral Health Security: Dental education for what is and will be - A vVARDIS Symposium

Wednesday, 26th August 2026 - 14:00 to 15:30
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Timezone: 

UTC +1

Duration: 

90 Minute

Venue: 

EOK Leacture Hall A

Type 3: Organised, planned and delivered by a corporate partner without input from ADEE
Session synopsis: 
vVARDIS Symposium

Healthcare systems are increasingly shaped by human and planetary health security concerns, geopolitical instability, environmental pressures, and rapid technological change. Dentistry must actively engage with a changing world. Sustainable dentistry extends beyond environmental considerations to include resilient care models, early intervention, and future-proof dental education systems. Recent global disruptions have exposed constraints of traditional dental education curriculum and vulnerabilities in service delivery, highlighting the need for flexibility and pro-active responses, early intervention and health-promotion-centered frameworks such as minimally invasive dentistry.

Programme: 

To explore how sustainable dentistry, and human security can help guide and inform dental education reform in support of WHO Global Oral Health Action Plan, clinical decision-making, and care delivery, with practical examples directly transferable to undergraduate and postgraduate curricula.

The symposium adopts a highly interactive, conversation-led format, with short, focused presentations, live discussion between speakers, and active audience participation, moving away from traditional lecture-based delivery.

 

Chair: 

Julian Fisher

Director of Oral and Planetary Health Policies
Center for Integrative Global Oral Health, University of Pennsylvania

Julian Fisher is Director of Oral and Planetary Health and Adjunct Faculty at the Center for Integrative Global Oral Health University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, USA. He is a policy advisor and educator with focused expertise in social and environmental determinants of health, health in all policies, human and health security and capacity development. Julian's work experience covers a diverse range of professional domains including international public health policy and advocacy (consultancies for UN agencies including WHO, UNESCO & UNEP), health profession (federation) management, health workforce undergraduate and post graduate education, both classroom and web based. 

Aylin Baysan

Professor in Cariology in relation to Minimally Invasive Dentistry
Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London

Aylin Baysan is a Professor in Cariology in relation to Minimally Invasive Dentistry at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). In addition, she is Adjunct Professor at Bezmialem Vakıf University, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul, Türkiye, and Honorary Professor of Restorative Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong since 2024. Aylin completed the dental undergraduate degree at Hacettepe University School of Medicine and Dentistry, Ankara Türkiye. Subsequently, Aylin completed MSc in Gerodontology (funded) at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, QMUL. She was then funded to do a clinical PhD to study the management of root caries either using ozone or high fluoride at QMUL and became one of the patent holders to use ozone on root decay. Aylin was also the first researcher to conduct a clinical study using the toothpaste containing 5,000 ppm fluoride (Duraphat Toothpaste, Colgate) on root caries. Her research related to Duraphat toothpaste was recommended in the Department of Health Guidelines, UK for delivering better oral health.

Aylin completed the Royal College of Surgeons' Dental Membership exams and PGCAP programme (Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, Higher Education Academy, UK) at Kings College London before moving back to QMUL to do further clinical training as an NHIR (National Institute for Health Research, Department of Health) trainee. Following this, Aylin became a General Dental Council Registered (GDC) Specialist in Removable and Fixed Prosthodontics. Aylin then obtained the Senior Fellowship and Principal status at the Advance HE. She was also awarded to the Fellowship at Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh as Dental Trainer (2020). Aylin passed the Membership exam in Endodontics at Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh to become a GDC Registered Specialist in Endodontics. She was also invited to become a Fellow at Royal College of Surgeons in England (2023).

Aylin introduced the Master Programme Director in Minimally Invasive Dentistry (MID) in 2020 and is currently the Programme Director of MSc in MID which is a unique course in the world where innovative and holistic strategies were taught according to the risk profile of individuals. Due to the demand to the MID programme, she also introduced the Clinical Doctorate Programme in MID. Aylin has supervised many PhD and MSc students on various projects in Cariology in relation to MID. She was awarded to several national and international prizes including Procter and Gamble Award for Geriatric Oral Research for the Best Research on the Use of Oral Care Products from Geriatric Oral Research Group at the International

Association of Dental Research (IADR). Aylin has over 63 peer reviewed publications and book chapters. She is also the Editor of first MID book entitled 'Interdisciplinary Clinical and Scientific Approaches' aimed at disseminating MID knowledge nationally and internationally and her book is available since November 2025.

Aylin was the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) Cariology Research Group (CRG) Councillor between 2019-2021. Aylin was also the Founder of the IADR Minimally Invasive Dentistry Research Network Group, and she was the President of IADR MID Network Group (2022-24). As a founding member, she has been instrumental in promoting research and knowledge exchange on MID, bringing together academics, clinicians, and industry partners to drive innovation in sustainable dentistry. She was also the elected Advisory Board Member on European Organisation for Caries Research (ORCA, 2020-23). Aylin has been elected to be the CRG President-elect (2023-24), and she was the CRG President (2024-25). She was recently elected to serve as a Councillor in Geriatric Oral Research Group at the IADR (2026-29).

Beyond her research and teaching, Professor Baysan is a passionate advocate for public engagement and health awareness, particularly in the oral-systemic health connection. She has been actively involved in raising awareness about the link between oral health and diabetes, working with healthcare professionals and communities to enhance understanding and improve health outcomes. Her recent article related to the importance of oral health in general health for individuals living with Diabetes was featured in the Independent newspaper, The common diabetes symptoms that are frequently overlooked | The Independent.

Her work is also deeply rooted in Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), where she strives to promote inclusive dental education, positive and equitable work environment for everyone to flourish. Through leadership, mentorship, and policy engagement, Aylin is passionate about a more inclusive and accessible future for everyone in clinical academia. Lastly, Aylin’s passion for art and classical music mirrors her approach to academia where creativity and precision unite to showcase MID strategy with sustainable patient care and education.

Learning Outcomes: 

To explore how sustainable dentistry, and human security can help guide and inform dental education reform in support of WHO Global Oral Health Action Plan, clinical decision-making, and care delivery, with practical examples directly transferable to undergraduate and postgraduate curricula.

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