British Dental Students' Association (BDSA) Committee

Hi everyone! My name is Youssef El-Wahab, and I’m a final-year dental student at King’s College London. It’s a true honour to serve as the Co-President of the British Dental Students’ Association for 2024-2025, alongside the inspiring Leena Soltan.

My journey within the BDSA began early in my dental school experience. I’ve had the privilege of serving as both a representative and a member of the Executive Committee. I am continually inspired by the incredible community the association provides—one which celebrates unity, amplifies the voices of dental students, and provides support both academically and socially.

At the heart of our mission is a commitment to inclusivity. We believe deeply in creating opportunities for all, ensuring that every dental student across the UK has a place and a voice within our association. This commitment drives everything we do, from events to initiatives that make sure no student is left behind. We want everyone to feel valued and represented, knowing they have a community that provides continual support.

We are also privileged to maintain strong partnerships with respected organisations such as the British Dental Association, the Dental Schools Council, and the European Dental Students’ Association. We are beyond grateful for their invaluable guidance and support, which allow us to continue evolving and improving what we offer.

Charity is central to our identity at the BDSA. This year, one of the charities we have the honour of supporting is the Canmore Trust, our 2024-2025 Chosen Charity. 30% of our annual profits will go towards making a meaningful impact with their cause, which inspires us all.

Looking ahead, I’m very much excited to work alongside the BDA Student Representatives, the BDSA Executive Committee, the BDSA Co-leads, and each Dental School’s Student President and Vice-President to build upon the outstanding foundations established over the previous years. Together, we will keep advancing our association’s dedication to ensuring a welcoming community for all dental students.

Hi everyone! My name is Leena Soltan, and I’m a fourth-year dental student at King’s College London. This year, I have the privilege of being your Co-President alongside Youssef.

As Co-President, I’m committed to keeping the needs of dental students across the UK at the forefront of everything we do. My main goal is to effectively organise and lead the work of the BDSA, all whilst fostering a strong sense of collaboration and communication within our community.

I’m very excited to work alongside my Executive Committee, the elected BDA student representatives and the other Presidents of the 16 dental schools. Through this, we can foster stronger working relationships that the BDSA has already established with the British Dental Association (BDA), Dental Schools Council (DSC) and European Dental Students’ Association (EDSA). Additionally, I plan to form and build on new partnerships with organisations, sponsors and charities, to further benefit our community.

The student representatives are the voice of their peers, and I want to ensure that every dental student’s voice is heard and addressed. This can only be achieved by cultivating an environment where students feel supported and empowered to speak up within their respective universities.

Drawing from my experience as last year’s conference organiser, I’m eager to build on that foundation and take the BDSA even further this year as your Co-President. I’m particularly passionate about creating new opportunities for students, and I want to encourage participation and awareness of these opportunities from all dental schools across the UK.

Some of my best memories at university so far were made at BDSA events, and so I want as many students as possible to have the same enriching experiences!

Hi everyone! My name is Afra and I graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2024. It’s an honour to remain on the BDSA Executive Committee this year as immediate past President.

I’m delighted with the dedication and achievements of the BDSA Executive, BDSA Council and BDA Students’ Committee last year. For me, one of the most fulfilling aspects of being involved with the BDSA and BDA are the connections you form with others. I will always remain grateful for those that I have worked closely with. It’s so inspiring to be part of such a diverse, dynamic and highly coordinated team that is constantly evolving.

If there was ever a time to be involved with this association, it is now. During my tenure as President, I had the privilege to travel all over Europe and represent the United Kingdom, participating in conversations spanning across dentistry and healthcare spheres. With that said, there are countless opportunities that are available to dental students in the UK. I look forward to collaborating with current and prospective BDSA stakeholders and sponsors who make these possible.

I’m so excited to be part of such a capable team this year. Under Youssef and Leena’s Co-Presidency, I have no doubt we will continue to build upon the accomplishments of last year.

Hi, my name is Chloe, I’m in my third year at Peninsula and I am serving the BDSA executive committee as general secretary for 2024-2025, as well as the senior representative for my school. I will be in charge of this year’s BDSA meeting agendas as well as keeping note of the content that goes on in these meetings.

Having joined the BDSA as a junior rep last year, I thoroughly enjoyed and am beyond grateful for the opportunity of meeting and forming lasting friendships with dental students from all over the country. Attending the BDSA conference and sports day was definitely a highlight from last year and has ultimately inspired me to give back to the association and contribute more to the integration and collaboration of dental students across different schools.

This year, my goal is to produce an accurate and concise summary of events that occur throughout the year. I am also extremely looking forward to working with the rest of the BDSA executive committee as well as the other dental school reps to execute events smoothly and that we achieve another successful year!

Hi everyone! My name is Abigail Cheong, a third year dental student at King’s College London, and I am thrilled to serve as the Treasurer for the BDSA Executive Committee 2024-25.

Last year, I had the pleasure of being the Treasurer and Lead Marketing Representative for the KCL BDSA Conference 2024, where I developed a deep appreciation for the BDSA’s mission. The association’s dedication to uniting dental students across the UK, amplifying our voices to the BDA, and fostering connections between dental schools truly resonates with me.

As Treasurer, my primary focus will be on ensuring the efficient and transparent management of the BDSA’s finances. By carefully overseeing budgets and the Douglas Jackson Grant, I aim to foster collaboration between universities through impactful initiatives. My goal is to allocate resources fairly and effectively, ensuring that key events such as the Conference and Sports Day run smoothly while maximising value for our members and maintaining financial stability. I endeavour to build on the excellent work of previous committees, promoting connections between universities and supporting events led by our dedicated BDA student representatives. I am friendly and approachable, and looking forward to meeting fellow students to strengthen ties between KCL, BDSA and the BDA in my role as KCL BDA Student Representative.

I am delighted to be part of the executive committee this year and look forward to meeting you all at upcoming events!

Warm regards,

Abigail

Hello, my name is Emma and I am excited to introduce myself as your BDSA Communications Officer for the academic year.

I am currently in my final year at the University of Glasgow.

As part of my responsibilities, I manage all BDSA communications and social media. I am dedicated to producing engaging and motivational content to promote events, increase BDA membership, and keep everyone informed about key developments.

I aim to perform this role with integrity, and I will focus on the following goals:

• Boosting engagement across BDSA’s social media platforms to create a more connected community.
• Facilitating networking opportunities.
• Representing dental students’ viewpoints and concerns.
• Publishing the BDSA newsletter each term to provide updates on opportunities, events and all things BDSA.
• Assisting with the creation and maintenance of the BDSA website.

I am very grateful to be part of the BDSA executive committee this year and look forward to sharing the BDSA 24/25 journey with you all!

Best wishes,

Emma

Hello everyone, my name is Parsa Sabet, I’m a fourth year dental student at Leeds. It is with great pride and honour that I have accepted the opportunity to sit on the BDSA Executive Committee as the Chief Organiser of the 2024/25 Annual Conference, as well as the Junior Student Representative for my university.

Following from the sensational weekend organised by the BDSA Kings 2024 committee, the bar has been set very high. I am grateful for the momentum generated around the Conference by my predecessors, and the BDSA Leeds Sports Day 2023; both of which will help push us to new heights. The team and I have aspirations of putting together a more diverse line-up of speakers, covering a wider range of topics, with even bigger names in the industry. Besides the Conference, we plan on switching things up for the socials, bringing ideas the BDSA has never seen before, to create some unforgettable memories!

I greatly look forward to working with the BDSA Executive Committee and the Student Representatives throughout the following year and bringing the country’s dental students together for the best Conference to date!

Hi, I’m Zora, a fourth-year dental student at the University of Sheffield, and I’m excited to be the BDSA Sports Organiser for the 2024/2025 academic year. Alongside this role, I currently serve as the Sports Secretary for Sheffield Dental School, where I help coordinate a range of sports events and activities for our students.

Sports have always been a huge part of my life. I’ve played competitive hockey for several years and love the thrill of being on the field. I’m also passionate about football and enjoy getting involved in matches whenever I can. Whether it’s hockey, football, or any other sport, I believe that sport is a great way to bring people together and create lasting friendships.

As the BDSA Sports Organiser, I’m committed to making the 2025 BDSA Sports Day a truly memorable and well-organised event. My vision is to create a weekend filled with friendly competition, team spirit, and, most importantly, fun. Whether you're a serious competitor or just looking to have a good time, my goal is to ensure that everyone feels included and enjoys the event.

I’m excited to work closely with my local committee and BDSA representatives to bring this vision to life, making the 2025 BDSA Sports Day an unforgettable experience for all participants. I can’t wait to help create memories that will last a lifetime, both on and off the field!

Aliysha Rahman.

Zara Hussain, Queen’s University Belfast

Hi everyone, I’m Zara and I’m currently a fifth year dental student at Queen’s University Belfast! I am delighted to be part of BDSA as a Research Officer. 

I am excited to be working with the BDSA research summit committee to organise this year’s research summit. This summit is designed to provide dental students across the UK with a unique opportunity to showcase their research endeavours. Our aim is to create a dynamic platform that will bring together dental students who share a passion for research. By doing so, we hope to not only encourage collaboration but also lay the groundwork for numerous future research initiatives. 

Also I believe this summit will be an invaluable learning experience for dental students who are new to the world of research. It will offer them insights into the relevance of research in dentistry and its potential impact on their future career aspirations. Our goal is to foster a deep appreciation and understanding of research within the dental student community. 

I am looking forward to working with the rest of executive committee and representatives in making this year yet another successful one for BDSA!

Hira Chaudhry, Glasgow

Hi, I’m Hira and I’m a fourth-year dental student at University of Glasgow! I’m very excited to be the BDSA Research Summit Publicity Officer this year, assisting the Academic Officer through social media posts and help promote the upcoming BDSA Annual Research Summit and future events. 

 Having joined the BDSA recently and a new member of the BDJ Student reader panel, I’m thrilled to be part of an organisation that unites all dental students and puts their students’ best interest first. We are extremely fortunate as dental students to have such an organisation that includes and brings us together from different dental schools. My aim is to encourage as many dental students as possible to really immerse themselves in what the BDSA has to offer through their amazing social media posts, conferences, events and magazines. 

When I’m not at dental school, I love to hang out with my friends, read and do spin classes! 

Overall, I’m very excited to be a part of the BDSA and I look forward to working with the executive committee.