Creating Value Together

Dear IFDH Members,
As I begin my term as President, I find myself reflecting on the journey that has brought me here and the opportunities we can create together. I feel deeply honoured by the trust placed in me and genuinely excited to take this next step alongside you.

As IFDH celebrates its 40th anniversary, we honour four decades of global collaboration, professional progress and shared commitment to better oral health. This milestone is not only a celebration of how far we have come, but an inspiration for everything we can achieve together in the years ahead.

Leadership Across Borders

Our recent House of Delegates Business Meeting in Baveno, Italy, brought together representatives from 22 countries for inspiring days of leadership, learning and collaboration. The exchange of experiences and perspectives reminded us that our global diversity is one of IFDH’s greatest strengths. When we learn from one another and bring that knowledge back to our countries, we strengthen our professions and the care we provide. Click to for more details and photos of our HoD meeting.

---

ISDH 2026: An Extraordinary Global Gathering

From Baveno, we continued to Milan for the 15th International Symposium on Dental Hygiene—and what an extraordinary gathering of our global community it was. More than 1,300 participants from 48 countries came together under the theme “Oral Health and General Health: Prevention & Progress.”

The opening ceremony, with the presentation of our member countries’ flags, created a powerful sense of pride, unity and shared purpose.

The scientific programme reflected the breadth and growing importance of our professions. With 100 oral presentations and more than 175 posters selected from over 350 submissions, the symposium offered new knowledge, evidence-based approaches and innovative ideas for clinicians, educators, researchers and students. It explored oral health throughout every stage of life and reinforced the essential connection between oral and overall health.

The World Dental Hygienist Awards, Social Responsibility Workshop, the first Oral Health Educators Workshop and the Research Session held in collaboration with the International Journal of Dental Hygiene further demonstrated the talent, innovation and commitment within our global community. The symposium was not simply an educational event—it was a place where knowledge became inspiration, professional connections became future collaborations and ideas gained the potential to create meaningful change. Click to for more details and hundreds of photos of the 2026 ISDH

The IFDH Booth: Conversations That Matter

Beyond the lecture halls, the exhibition became a vibrant space for inspiration, exchange and connection. Thirty-five informative trade displays brought together products, technologies and ideas helping to shape the future of oral healthcare. One of the true highlights was seeing the new IFDH booth come alive through everyone who visited us.

My heartfelt thanks go to each person who stopped by, shared their experiences and took the time to speak with us. It was a privilege to meet colleagues from around the world and engage in inspiring conversations about the future of our professions and IFDH. These personal connections truly reflected the spirit and strength of our global community.

Thank You to Our Sponsors, Exhibitors and AIDI!

A special thank you goes to our major sponsors: Haleon, our Diamond Sponsor; Curasept, Listerine/Kenvue and Philips Sonicare, our Platinum Sponsors; and Curaprox, EMS, Sunstar and TePe, our Gold Sponsors. Your generous support played an essential role in making the symposium possible. My sincere appreciation also goes to all our sponsors and exhibitors, the Local Organising Committee, the International Scientific Committee, our speakers, volunteers and everyone who contributed to this memorable event. Click for the full article on ISDH 2026, lots of photos and a list of our sponsors and exhibitors.

A heartfelt thank you to our Italian hosts, the Associazione Igienisti Dentali Italiani, for your exceptional work, warm hospitality and dedication to creating such a memorable symposium. *Grazie mille* for welcoming our global community to Milan and making us feel truly at home.

Save the Date: Dubai in 2028

As we carry the inspiration and connections from Milan forward, we are already looking ahead to our next opportunity to come together. Please save the date for the 16th International Symposium on Dental Hygiene, taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 8–10 June 2028. I look forward to reuniting with our global community in Dubai.

---

Honouring Leadership, Looking Ahead

I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to our Immediate Past President, Jill Rethman, for her dedicated leadership and the important progress achieved during her term. My thanks also go to the outgoing Board, our delegates, committees, member organisations, partners and staff for their commitment and valuable contributions to IFDH.

I am very pleased to begin this term alongside our new Board of Directors. Their extensive experience, diverse expertise and strong commitment to our professions give me great confidence in the work ahead. Together, this highly skilled team will turn our shared ambitions into meaningful progress. Click to learn more about our new Board (2026-2028).

Global Oral Health Summit: November 7, 2026

One of the first highlights of our new term will be IFDH’s virtual 2026 Global Oral Health Summit on November 7. Under the theme “One World, One Smile: Integrating Oral Health for Better Global Health,” the Summit will offer new perspectives and inspire action across our professions. I hope to see you there.

Guided by our mission, we will continue to advance oral health through leadership, education, advocacy, research and international collaboration. Progress happens when people feel valued, connected and empowered to contribute. By bringing together our strengths, ideas and experiences, we can turn our shared vision into meaningful action.

Each voice matters. Every contribution creates value. Together, we have the power to strengthen our professions and create a lasting impact on oral and overall health worldwide.

I look forward to working with all of you as we shape this next chapter—and continue creating value together.

Warm regards,

Fouzieh Eliassy,
President,
International Federation of Dental Hygienists