Scotland’s newest dental school has a new man in the chair.
Professor James Newton has been appointed Head of the University of Aberdeen Dental School.
He joins Aberdeen from the University of Dundee Dental Hospital and School where he was Sub Dean for Teaching and Senior Clinical Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in Restorative Dentistry.
He had previously been Acting Lead of the new dental school, but is now looking forward to leading a first class facility that he believes will help meet the challenges of Scottish dentistry.
Professor Newton said: "This is an exciting opportunity to develop a centre of excellence for dentistry which will be beneficial not only for Aberdeen and Grampian, but for Scotland as a whole.
"We are looking forward to working with other established dental schools in providing high quality, caring dentists so as to improve and maintain the oral health of the people of Scotland.
"With the demographic changes in the Scottish population, dental care will become more challenging and the investment in the University of Aberdeen Dental School will contribute significantly to meeting these challenges now and in the future."
Professor Stephen Logan, Senior Vice Principal of the University of Aberdeen, said: "The University of Aberdeen is absolutely delighted at the appointment of Professor James Newton as Head of the University of Aberdeen Dental School.
"He is an experienced dentist who has worked closely in dental education for many years and we very much look forward to him taking forward and developing our new dental school."
Professor Mike Greaves, Head of the University's School of Medicine and Dentistry, added: "Under the highly experienced stewardship of Professor James Newton, the University of Aberdeen Dental School will produce skilled dental practitioners, trained in state-of-the-art facilities, and contribute to improved oral health in the region."
Plymouth born, Professor Newton obtained a BSc (Hons) in Physiology followed by a PhD in Physiology at the University of St Andrews.
He then graduated from Dundee Dental School with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 1978, before becoming a general dental practitioner for six years.
Professor Newton's previous appointments include Senior Clinical Lecturer in Prosthetic Dentistry; Senior Clinical Lecturer in Integrated Restorative Care and Head of Integrated Oral Care Clinic at the Dundee Dental School.
He has been actively involved with the international journal Gerodontology as Assistant Editor since 1992, becoming Editor-in-Chief in 2003 and has published extensively in the areas of gerodontology, oral physiology and dental education.
Professor Newton has also been significantly involved in developing Aberdeen's dental curriculum to meet the criteria defined by the General Dental Council's 'The First Five Years'.
The dental school's initial cohort of 15 students is half way through the first of their four years of study. Subsequent intakes will see 20 students each year join the graduate entry level course.
Work is well underway on the new University of Aberdeen Dental School building which is due for completion in September and operational in October.
The purpose built complex will feature facilities for oral surgery, dental accident and emergency, restorative dentistry, integrated oral care, orthodontics, paediatric dentistry, radiography as well as dental laboratories, student laboratories and office accommodation.