The Arnold Huddart Medal was established in 1990 for the encouragement of original and promising research papers at the Annual Scientific Conference. Jules Scott was awarded second place for her work which is re-examining the effects of centralisation of cleft lip and palate services in the United Kingdom. Scott has demonstrated wide variation in the leadership of these centralised cleft teams, how they are organised, and how they function as a team. Ourvinder Chawala was awarded the Arnold Huddart Medal for her research which indicates that digital 3D technology may replace conventional plaster dental study casts in assessing outcomes for those children born with cleft lip and palate.

These awards reflect the ethos of research in the DDS where students undertake projects that are relevant and which translate into better patient care and management.  They are also part of the major initiatives into cleft research in Bristol with links between the University of the West of England (UWE) and the University of Bristol. Large research awards underpin these activities. At the same meeting in York, research associate Nicky Stock and Professor Nicola Rumsey, both from UWE, were awarded the Presidents Medal for the most interesting free paper delivered at the meeting. 

Professor Jonathan Sandy, Head of the University of Bristol’s School of Oral and Dental Sciences, said: ‘This is great recognition of the quality of research our Doctoral students undertake and is a spin-out from the major research programmes in cleft lip and palate that are now under way across both universities in Bristol.’