Professor Liz Kay, who has been appointed by Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust as one of its Associate Non-Executive Directors

Professor Liz Kay MBE, Foundation Dean of the Peninsula School of Dentistry, has been announced as the new president of the Oral Health Foundation.

She will start her new two-year role immediately, combining her presidency with her work at the University, and leading a research review of oral health promotion for the National Institute of Clinical and Healthcare Excellence.

Professor Kay said:

"I have supported the Oral Health Foundation for very long time and I am honoured to be elected president. I believe my appointment comes at a time of transition for oral health.

"I sense real possibility of an important shift in the profile of oral disease; it’s possible we are on the cusp of recognising oral health as a window to the rest of the body, a predictor of future general ill health. This will be a key time for the Oral Health Foundation, where its role in raising awareness of the importance of oral health will really come to the fore, I hope to see this during my time as president."

Dr Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation said: 

"Everyone here at the Oral Health Foundation is so proud of what we have achieved over the past year. We have seen amazing growth across many key aspects of the charity, such as supporters, online presence and media exposure and I am confident that we have the right team with a mix of knowledge and expertise to build on this even further.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank every single one of our supporters for your continued backing and hope you this will continue into the upcoming year and beyond."

Professor Christopher Tredwin, Head of the Peninsula School of Dentistry, said: 

"We are immensely proud of what Liz has achieved - to be chosen as President of the Oral Health Foundation is a great recognition of the outstanding impact she's having on the profession."