Students shortlisted for national dental professional awards

Nicole Elango and Deeon Trute have been named as finalists at the Future of Dentistry awards, which recognise upcoming talent in the profession.
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Two University of Plymouth students have been shortlisted for the Future of Dentistry awards, recognising the upcoming talent in the profession.

Nicole Elango and Deeon Trute are finalists for the Student Dentist of the Year and Student Dental Hygienist and/or Therapist of the Year 2020 respectively – marking the first time that two Plymouth students have been shortlisted simultaneously.

The students were selected from hundreds of national applications, and the winners will be announced later this year.

Nicole Elango

Nicole is a third year student dentist and took on the degree having already achieved a BSc in Biomedical Sciences and MSc Mental Health.

She has been 2019-20 President of Peninsula DentSoc, Dental Course Rep, Student Representative for the British Dental Association and a mentor for aspiring dental students. She has spent over 600 hours as a suicide hotline volunteer, and volunteered with a local Plymouth charity to produce an intervention to alleviate dental anxiety, and teach basic oral hygiene instructions to children with special educational needs and their parents.

In addition, she has created the first student-run online lecture series in collaboration with Kings College London (KCL) DentSoc. Since then, she has organised over 20 free dental education webinars and has launched her own series, “The Student Webinar Series” which hosts international speakers from Barts to Harvard.

Nicole is also passionate about promoting equality and diversity in dentistry, specifically fighting against racism, supporting the LGBT+ community, and reducing the negative stigma surrounding mental health. Within her roles, she has actively promoted access to student counselling services and created a social media campaign to celebrate the successes of Peninsula Dental School students.

Nicole said: 

“I am incredibly grateful to be a finalist for the dental student of the year award. I feel privileged to be able to complete my degree at peninsula and I look forward to spending time giving back to the student and dental community through continued mentoring, volunteering and teaching. Most importantly, I am thankful for the support provided from my family, friends, and staff at Peninsula Dental School over the years.”

Nicole Elango

Deeon Trute

Deeon has been working within dentistry for 10 years – starting as a trainee dental nurse as soon as she finished her A levels, after being inspired by her own dentist.

She then moved to Plymouth and did some part time locum work, then sought to realise her ambition to help patients of her own improve their oral health.

Alongside her studies in dental therapy and hygiene, Deeon is a mentor on the Widening Access to Dental School (WADs) e-mentoring scheme, supporting people interested in becoming dental professionals of the future, and a dental therapy and hygiene equality and diversity champion.

She has also worked closely with outreach charity Well Connected to support and educate the Plymouth community on oral health.


Deeon, who has just finished her third year, said: 

“I’m so happy to be shortlisted for this award and have loved studying the course at Plymouth. As well as the academic and practical side of dental hygiene therapy, I’ve been able to work with the local community and really understand their needs. I plan to stay living in Plymouth and I would love to continue working within the local community, to help educate and support those that need it.”

Deeon Trute

Future of Dentistry Awards

Professor Christopher Tredwin elected as next Chair of the Dental Schools Council

Professor Christopher Tredwin, Head of Peninsula Dental School, said: 

“We are proud of all of our students’ impact on their local community, and it’s wonderful to see that Nicole and Deeon’s outstanding achievements have been recognised nationally. They’ve done some exceptional work to make a difference to their peers and communities in need, and to hear that they’ll carry on their work after graduating is wonderful. Their shortlistings are very well deserved indeed.”

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