The Virtual Dental Society (VDS) Student Committee is a group of students who work with Dental Mentor to develop and deliver educational programs for other students who are interested in dentistry.

The VDS Student Committee is made up of passionate and motivated students who have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership skills, and a commitment to serving their communities. The committee members work together to organise a range of events, such as virtual conferences, webinars, and workshops, which provide students with opportunities to learn about different aspects of medicine, such as research, clinical practice, and dental education.

The VDS Student Committee is designed to help students develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their academic and professional careers. Through their work with Dental Mentor, committee members have the opportunity to build their leadership and communication skills, network with other dental professionals, and gain valuable experience that will help them succeed in their future careers in dentistry.

Joining Dental Mentor’s Virtual Dental Society Committee can not only provide you with valuable experiences and skills but can also make you stand out as a dental school applicant. By leading on a national level and working to support and inspire other students interested in pursuing a career in dentistry, you demonstrate a level of dedication and commitment that dental schools seek in their applicants.

Every previous committee member of the Virtual Dental Society has been awarded at least one dental school offer, and this is not a coincidence. The experience and skills gained from being part of the committee are highly valued by dental schools and can give you a competitive edge in the application process. Through your work with the committee, you will develop essential skills such as leadership, teamwork, communication, and presentation, which are all vital skills for success in dental school and beyond.

Furthermore, being part of a community that is committed to excellence and innovation can help you develop a passion for dentistry that will shine through in your personal statement, interviews, and overall application. By joining the Virtual Dental Society Committee, you are not only supporting and inspiring others but also investing in your own future success as a dental professional.

The committee members collaborate to create resources and support for students wanting to become dentists. Here are some of the key activities of the VDS Student Committee:

1. Organise virtual events: The committee organises a virtual society meetings which are webinars and workshops, providing students with opportunities to learn about various aspects of dentistry such as research, clinical practice, and dental education.

2. Develop educational resources: Committee members work together to create educational resources such as articles, videos, and podcasts that cover a wide range of topics in dentistry and healthcare.

3. Provide mentorship and support: The committee provides mentorship and support to students who are interested in pursuing a career in dentistry. They offer guidance and advice on topics such as university applications, work experience, and interview preparation.

4. Collaborate with healthcare professionals: The committee collaborates with healthcare professionals to provide students with insights into the day-to-day realities of working in dentistry. This includes opportunities to engage in research projects and virtual work experience placements.

The Virtual Dental Society Student Committee aims to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and support they need to pursue a successful career in dentistry.

You must be an existing Dental Mentor student in order to apply with your Student ID number.  If you do not have one yet, you can obtain one for free by registering for a student portal here.  You will then be able to submit your application and track its progress through your free online portal.

Applications for committee positions open 2-3 times a year and we will be making announcements across our social medical platforms, so please follow us on instagram, twitter, Facebook, TikTok and keep an eye on your emails for when committee positions open.

To apply for a position in the Virtual Dental Society Student Committee with Dental Mentor, you must be a secondary student who wants to become a dentist. The programme is open to students from any school around the world who meet the age requirement, which is 14 – 17 years old.

The committee is looking for motivated and dedicated students who have a passion for dentistry and a commitment to making a positive impact in the field. Previous experience in dentistry or healthcare is not required, but applicants should have a strong academic record and demonstrate leadership skills, teamwork, and a desire to learn and grow.

The President plays a key role in the Virtual Dental Society. The President acts as a figurehead for the society and also ensures that the Committee functions properly, that there is full participation during meetings, that all relevant matters are discussed and that effective decisions are made and carried out. The President must be a highly active, experienced and long-standing member of the Dental Mentor community.

Duties and responsibilities:

The responsibilities of a President can be summarised under three areas:

1. To represent the Virtual Dental Society.

The President may from time to time be called upon to represent the Virtual Dental Society and sometimes be its spokesperson at, for example, meetings with Chief Mentors and Scholars when called upon.

2. To ensure the Virtual Dental Society Committee functions properly.

The President fulfils the role of Chair presiding at committee meetings. They are responsible for making sure that each meeting is planned effectively, conducted according to the student code of conduct and that matters are dealt with in an orderly, efficient manner. The President must make the most of all their committee members and ‘lead the team’. 

3. To ensure the Society is managed effectively.

The President must co-ordinate the Committee to ensure that appropriate procedures are in place for the effective running of the society.  This includes ensuring that the Virtual Dental Society continues to expand and improve continuously.

The Vice President of the Virtual Dental Society (VDS) serves as the second-in-command to the President and provides support in managing the affairs of the society. The Vice President’s role is to assist the President in overseeing the work of the VDS Student Committee and to ensure that the committee’s goals and objectives are met. Some of the specific responsibilities of the Vice President include:

1. Supporting the President: The Vice President works closely with the President to ensure that the VDS Student Committee operates efficiently and effectively. They assist the President in making decisions and in delegating tasks to other committee members.

2. Representing the Society: The Vice President serves as a representative of the VDS Student Committee and promotes the society’s work to other students and professionals in the field of dentistry.

3. Planning and organising events: The Vice President helps to plan and organise virtual events, such as conferences, webinars, and workshops, and ensures that they run smoothly.

4. Collaborating with committee members: The Vice President works closely with other committee members to develop educational resources, provide mentorship and support to students, and collaborate with healthcare professionals.

The Vice President plays a critical role in ensuring the success of the VDS Student Committee. They work alongside the President and other committee members to create a supportive and engaging community for students interested in pursuing a career in dentistry.

The Virtual Dental Society Secretary plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the Committee and the Society. The Secretary provides support to the President and Vice President and is responsible for a range of important tasks. These include:

1. Planning and organising meetings: The Secretary liaises with the President to plan meetings, ensuring that they are effectively organised and minuted.

2. Managing communication: The Secretary requests and receives agenda items from committee and society members, circulates agendas and meeting information, takes minutes, and circulates approved minutes with the help of the hub staff at Dental Mentor. They also ensure that agreed actions are carried out.

3. Maintaining records: The Secretary is responsible for maintaining effective records and administration. This includes filing minutes and reports with the Chief Mentors, compiling lists of networking contacts that are useful to the organisation, and keeping a record of the organisation’s activities.

4. Planning future activities: The Secretary keeps a diary of future activities and prepares a report and plan of the organisation’s activities.

The Publicity Officer for the Virtual Dental Society serves as a crucial link between the Society and Dental Mentor’s Communications Department. The Publicity Officer’s responsibilities include:

1. Communication: The Publicity Officer is responsible for communicating with the Comms Department to ensure that information about the society is accurately disseminated to its members and the wider Dental Mentor Committee. They report back to the monthly society committee meetings on the activities of the publicity committee.

2. Branding: The Publicity Officer is responsible for maintaining and updating the Virtual Dental Society’s brand. This includes ensuring that the Society’s image and messaging are consistent across all marketing materials, including posters, leaflets, social media, and other digital platforms. They work closely with the Communications Department at Dental Mentor to do this.

3. Design: The Publicity Officer coordinates the designs for the society’s marketing efforts, including the creation of posters, leaflets, and social media graphics. They work with other committee members to ensure that all marketing materials are visually appealing and effective in promoting the Society’s mission and values.

Overall, the Publicity Officer plays a critical role in promoting the Virtual Dental Society and its activities to a wider audience. Their work helps to raise awareness of the Society and attract new members, while also ensuring that the Society’s brand is consistent and effective across all platforms.

The Research Officer for the Virtual Dental Society plays a critical role in supporting Dental Mentor’s research projects and encouraging participation from society members. Their responsibilities include:

1. Collaborating with Vice Presidents and Scholars: The Research Officer works alongside the Vice Presidents and Scholars on Dental Mentor’s research projects. They provide support and expertise to help ensure that the research is conducted effectively and accurately.

2. Encouraging participation: The Research Officer encourages society members to get involved in research initiatives as participants or contributors. They provide information about research opportunities and help to match research enthusiasts with projects from within the Society.

3. Keeping a log: The Research Officer keeps a log of all the research that is being conducted which affects applying students. They help to ensure that the Society is aware of the latest research findings and that members are kept up-to-date on relevant research.

4. Suggesting research projects: The Research Officer suggests ideas for useful research projects within the remit of dental education and applying to dental school for the central Dental Mentor research committee to undertake. They help to ensure that dental Mentor’s research initiatives are relevant and useful to society members.

Overall, the Research Officer plays a critical role in promoting research and encouraging participation among society members. Their work helps to ensure that the Society is aware of the latest research findings and is actively involved in contributing to the field of medical education.

The Wellbeing Officer on the Virtual Dental Society Committee is responsible for promoting the health and wellbeing of the Society’s members. Their main responsibilities include:

1. Representing views and rights: The Wellbeing Officer represents the views and the rights of the Virtual Dental Society Members regarding health and wellbeing. They are a point of contact for members who need support or have concerns about their wellbeing.

2. Liaising with the student committee: The Wellbeing Officer liaises with the student committee to create resources to promote the wellbeing of applicants and members. They work with other committee members to develop activities or resources that support the mental, emotional, and physical health of members.

3. Supporting families: The Wellbeing Officer works to create resources and activities that support the families of members. This may include providing information on how to support a family member who is applying to dental school, or creating activities that families can do together to promote wellbeing.

Overall, the Wellbeing Officer plays a critical role in ensuring that the Virtual Dental Society is a supportive and healthy community for all members. They work to promote the wellbeing of members and their families and are a point of contact for anyone who needs support or advice.

The Education Officer on the Virtual Dental Society Committee plays a crucial role in promoting the educational development of society members. Their main responsibilities include:

1. Collecting member opinions: The Education Officer collects the opinions of Virtual Society Members about topics that they would like to be covered and reports these requests to the President and Vice President. They act as a voice for society members and ensure that their educational needs are taken into consideration.

2. Creating a curriculum: The Education Officer creates an Education Curriculum and timetable to be delivered each month at least a month ahead. They work with the committee to develop educational programmes that align with the Society’s goals and objectives.

3. Coordinating with other officers: The Education Officer works alongside the Publicity Officer and Secretary to ensure that members are aware of the educational programmes and plans for meetings. They collaborate with other officers to promote the Society’s educational initiatives and engage with society members.

4. Developing new resources: The Education Officer comes up with new ideas and educational resources that would be of benefit to the Virtual Dental Society. They stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments in medical education and use this knowledge to develop innovative educational initiatives for society members.

Overall, the Education Officer plays a critical role in promoting the educational development of society members. They work to create a comprehensive curriculum, engage with members to understand their educational needs, and develop innovative resources to enhance the educational experience of society members.

The role of the Oxbridge Officers is to provide support and guidance to Virtual Dental Society members who are interested in applying to Oxford or Cambridge universities. This includes collecting the opinions of society members about topics they would like to be covered and reporting these requests to the President and Vice President. The officers also ensure that students receive an Oxbridge update, if any, during society meetings and work closely with the Publicity Officer and Secretary to ensure that members are aware of Oxbridge updates. Additionally, the officers come up with new ideas and educational resources that would be of benefit to the Virtual Dental Society members. They provide advice and information to members about the application process, interview techniques, and other relevant topics to help them succeed in their applications to Oxbridge.

Year Group Representatives are students from different year groups who are selected to represent their peers on the Virtual Dental Society Committee. This gives junior students the chance to have a voice and participate in the decision-making process of the committee. It is an excellent opportunity for students to enhance their leadership skills by taking responsibility for organising and promoting society activities, encouraging participation from their classmates, and communicating feedback and ideas from their year group to the committee. Year Group Representatives work closely with other committee members and the leadership team to ensure that the society provides valuable resources and support for students who are interested in becoming dentists.