Just 12 months after gaining membership to the FDI World Dental Federation, the small Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda has earned global acclaim for its commitment to dental professional development, taking home a top award at the recent FDI World Dental Congress held in Prague, Czech Republic.
The national honor was awarded to the Antigua and Barbuda Dental Association for its innovative Young Dentists initiative, a program designed to nurture the next generation of oral health leaders in the country. The nation was represented at the award ceremony by two senior association leaders: Dr. Deborah Robinson-Akande, who serves as both president of the national association and FDI National Liaison, and Dr. Kronskie Dickenson-Foster, the association’s vice president and acting senior dental consultant for the country’s Ministry of Health.
Industry observers note that this achievement carries unusual weight, coming just one year after Antigua and Barbuda formalized its membership in the global federation, which counts more than one million dentists across the globe as its members and acts as the leading unifying voice for the international dental profession.
Reflecting on the milestone, Dr. Robinson-Akande emphasized that joining the FDI has opened transformative doors for the Caribbean nation. “Membership in the FDI has not just given our team space to learn from the world’s leading dental professionals – it has also let us contribute to global conversations that shape the future of oral health,” she explained. “Critical oral health policies that guide national ministries of health and local dental associations are developed right here in the FDI. It was incredibly meaningful to learn that suggestions our delegation put forward helped shape one of these recent policies. It proves that even as a small island nation, our voice, our experience, and our perspective matter on the global stage, and the decisions we help make will ultimately benefit the people of Antigua and Barbuda.”
During the congress, delegates also got to see the nation’s public health impact on display: a photograph documenting Antigua and Barbuda’s annual World Oral Health Day outreach activities was featured alongside submissions from other participating nations from every corner of the globe. Dr. Dickenson-Foster called that moment a powerful reminder of the value of international engagement. “To see Antigua and Barbuda represented right alongside major nations from across the world drove home a key point: the work we are doing at home is being seen by the global community. Our participation counts, and our contributions are valued and recognized,” she said.
The recognition at the congress has already translated into tangible benefits for dental care and professional development in Antigua and Barbuda. One immediate outcome is a new support partnership with the FDI, which has agreed to fully cover the travel costs for regional dental education experts to visit Antigua to lead continuing professional development courses for local dentists. The national dental association will only be responsible for covering local accommodation for the visiting speakers, drastically lowering the barrier to expanding access to high-quality continuing education.
In addition, the chair of FDI Membership has extended a formal invitation for the Antigua and Barbuda Dental Association to join the North American Regional Organisation (NARO), a regional collaborative body that currently counts dental associations from the United States, Canada, and Mexico as its members. NARO’s core mission is to foster cross-border collaboration between member organizations across key areas including professional education, clinical research, dental practice innovation, and public health outreach, opening new pathways for knowledge sharing and partnership for the Caribbean association.
Beyond award celebrations and new partnership opportunities, the Antigua and Barbuda delegation also took an active role in the congress’s core governance work, participating in FDI parliamentary and leadership sessions alongside delegates from national dental associations from around the world. During these sessions, delegates joined in global discussions on emerging oral health policies, community outreach programs, and shared global priorities for the profession.
Leaders of the Antigua and Barbuda Dental Association framed the award as more than just a reward for past work: for the organization, it is a call to continue expanding investment in its Young Dentists initiative. By building up young clinicians’ clinical expertise, leadership capabilities, and long-term professional growth, the association works to cultivate a new cohort of skilled dental leaders, while also raising the standard of patient care for all residents of Antigua and Barbuda.