Student Success

We are delighted to congratulate our BDS student, Suzi Howell, on being named Runner Up in the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Lifelong Health and Wellbeing’ category at this year’s Newcastle University Awards.  Jointly delivered by the Careers Service and Newcastle University Students’ Union, these awards recognise students who have gone above and beyond to make a meaningful impact—and Suzi’s achievement is a wonderful reflection of her leadership and commitment to improving health and wellbeing.

Suzi received this recognition for her outstanding leadership of Brush Up, our student-led oral health initiative dedicated to promoting good oral hygiene and reducing health inequalities. With an amazing team of around 40 volunteers, through Brush Up, Suzi has worked with fellow students to deliver engaging, accessible oral health education within the community—supporting children and families to develop positive lifelong habits around oral care. Her efforts have helped extend the reach of preventive dentistry, delivering visits to over 3,500 individuals, and highlighting the vital role dental professionals play in wider public health. This year alone they have distributed over 650 Brush Up 'goodie bags', which include a toothbrush, toothpaste, disclosing tablets, and a oral health leaflet that Brush Up designed themselves.

At the School of Dental Sciences, we are incredibly proud of students like Suzi and Brush Up who embody our values and demonstrate the wider impact of dentistry in promoting lifelong health. 

Congratulations, Suzi on this fantastic and well-deserved achievement!