GENEVA: Professor Ihsane Ben Yahya started her two-year tenure (2021–2023) as President FDI. She shared her vision and hopes for FDI during the special virtual edition of the ADA FDI World Dental Congress after the traditional handover of the presidential chain. She was officially sworn in the ceremony.
In her speech, she said that she was truly honoured to take over the FDI presidency. She thanked Dr Gerhard for his leadership over the past two years and was honoured to work at his side.
She promised to be a strong ambassador for FDI. Although being the first African President, she was committed to serving all their members globally and reducing inequalities in oral health so that the most marginalized populations would not be left behind. She believed everyone has the right to good oral health and to live a full, happy, and healthy life, and by joining forces and as an uplifting federation, she could make that happen.
Prof Ihsane expressed she couldn't be successful in her presidential role without the support and trust of a strong team. Since day one of her involvement with FDI, she has seen the impact of teamwork every day as Head of Hospital and Dean of the Dental Faculty at University in Morocco.
The new President said she would work with her team to deliver on FDI's three strategic pillars,i.e., membership, advocacy and knowledge transfer. She thought that FDI's report Our Vision 2030 – Delivering Optimal Oral Health for All report had been a critical tool to make it possible.
She considered that the World Oral Health Day campaign had been an excellent opportunity to improve oral health literacy globally. So, she encouraged us to celebrate with them on March 20.
She concluded by saying, " It is a heavy responsibility that I promise to assume with all the due ethics, values, and integrity. I look forward to working with you and thank you again for the trust you have placed in me and for handover the torch to Africa. I will not let you down."
Professor Ben Yahya has been an FDI Council member since 2013 and has been the Dean of the Dental Faculty at the Mohammed VI University of Health Science, Casablanca, Morrocco. She has also worked in various committees, commissions, juries, and boards throughout her career in dentistry.