The multidisciplinary OMFS Trauma Group recently held its inaugural Away Day at The Royal Society. The event was funded through a grant from QMUL’s Enhancing Research & Innovation Culture (ERIC) fund and organised by Dr Sharan Sidhu, Institute of Dentistry. Professor Sir Mark Caulfield, VP for Health, in his Opening Address, thanked the speakers for their contribution and the OMFS team for their dedication to service and the amazing and fantastic care patients received.
Participants at the OMFS Inaugural Away Day at The Royal Society
Participants of the Away Day included junior and senior members of the OMFS trauma team, the clinical psychology team, nurses, dental radiology team, technicians, dental clinical academics and students. Those who attended heard presentations from two keynote international speakers: Professor Andreas Neff, Medical Director and Chairman of the Dept of Craniomaxillofacial & Facial Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Marburg, Germany, and Professor Lars Andersson, Senior Professor of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Malmö University, Sweden. Professor Neff delivered his thought-provoking presentation on his approach on the management of intracapsular condylar fractures developed over his 30 years of clinical experience. The next speaker was Professor Andersson, co-author of the authoritative textbook on dental traumatic injuries (Textbook and Color Atlas of Traumatic Injuries to the Teeth). Professor Andersson presented the importance of getting it right when managing dental traumatic injuries and if unavoidable, the need to consider various tooth replacement options. The lectures were followed by breakout group discussions on potential areas for research, education, service improvement and delivery.
From the overwhelmingly positive feedback, participants thought that the meeting was successful and well-organised. The majority felt that it was a unique opportunity to learn from world renowned experts, away from the business of service delivery. Many also highlighted that the breakout group session was a most welcomed opportunity to network, discuss and develop ideas across disciplines, which is seldom possible in everyday clinical practice.
Professor Simon Holmes, Lead for Craniofacial Trauma, in his closing remarks stated that the day had facilitated the team to formulate a forward strategy particularly in terms of generating research.
The speakers at the Away Day: Professor Andreas Neff (left) and Professor Lars Andersson (right)