Orthodontics graduate Liz wins annual Gold Medal Award
A graduate from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has been awarded by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh for excellence during her course.
Elizabeth Fear, who completed her diploma in orthodontic therapy at UCLan in 2016, was this week awarded the Orthodontic Gold Medal Award which is handed out annually to the most outstanding student taking the course in the UK that year.
Elizabeth beat off competition from students from four other universities to win the award, following in the footsteps of fellow graduates Paula Reed and Sophie Gannon who also won it in 2015 and 2013 respectively.
"I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience of the course, particularly the practical side of the training and learning new skills from my mentor and other work colleges."
Elizabeth, who now works for Dentalign in the Colwyn Bay and Wrexham practices, said: “I was so delighted with this news as it made me feel like all the hours of hard work has paid off. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience of the course, particularly the practical side of the training and learning new skills from my mentor and other work colleges. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone at UCLan as I love my new career as an orthodontic therapist.”
2015 winner Paula Reed said: “Throughout the course I received excellent support from all the tutors, all the study aids and lesson content were brilliant. The course was intense and hard work but thoroughly worth doing. I was honoured to be able to win the Orthodontic Therapy Gold Medal from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.”
The course leader of the diploma in orthodontic therapy at UCLan, Dr Hement Patel, offered his congratulations. “I am delighted that once again a student from UCLan has won this prestigious award. It is testament to all of the hard work the students put into this challenging and rewarding course and reflects the high calibre of applicants we attract to it.”
A qualified orthodontic therapist works closely with an orthodontist in a specialist area of dentistry that focuses on straightening teeth, correcting bites and jaw alignment. The UCLan course is offered within the School of Dentistry which was established in 2007.