Student Initiatives & Achievements: Ajay Mehta BDS 5

Heart Your Smile, Akshya Patra, BACD, BDA Enfield

Last year, I took the initiative to set up and run a committee for Heart Your Smile, in which I elected 14 representatives across 5 universities in order to broaden the charity’s outreach. 

Our aims were to improve patients’ attendance to the dentist and promote a positive message of dentistry. My work for HYS led to being granted with the champion and ambassador award. I was chosen to become the first student ambassador for Akshayapatra, a globally recognised charity. They run a school meals programme which helps feed kids all around India, subsequently keeping them in education. 
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I organised four talks throughout the year (with two more this year) and raised money to adopt a school in India. I collaborated with Colgate to send toothbrushes and toothpaste to these students and they also received an oral hygiene talk. I was also fortunate enough to be a finalist for the Private Dentistry Awards (FMC). I helped re-launch BDA Enfield, a section which had been closed for 7 years. As student president for the section my roles include helping organise regional meetings. 

Within KCL, last year I was Medicine representative for KOMFS and Social Secretary for Smile Society, and a committee member for ‘INSPIRE,’ an inaugural research day at King’s with all UK dental universities. I also supported acts backstage at the Diwali show as an ambassador. 

Outside of dentistry, my hobbies include playing football (having previously captained at university), dancing and binge watching TV shows (currently working my way through Suits!)