CDF is an inter-denominational association of Christians working in dentistry.
Our aim is to support and encourage you during your degree and put you in touch with other dentists, students and overseas partners that can do the same. We can help you plan an overseas elective and support you when you go (practically, prayerfully and possibly financially). We are also here to support and help you for VT and beyond.
BDS or BChD isn't always easy, and that's why Christian fellowship is so important during the ups and downs. Joining the CDF is only £10 for students!
Ten reasons why Christian dental students need the CDF
Check out the CDF Facebook page!
Drop us a line and introduce yourself - we might know some other Christians in your dental school:
CDF Student & Electives Coordinators
Becky Perren
I qualified from Sheffield dental school in 2008 and I am currently a VT in Worcestershire. I became a Christian in 2003 during my first degree, and have been passionate about sharing the Gospel ever since! University is the most amazing time for conversations about your faith and a chance to witness by the way you live, but this can be difficult at times.
I became involved in CDF in my first year at Sheffield, meeting up with a small group of other Christian students from different years once a week at lunchtime. I found it such a blessing to have other Christians to meet with who could offer me support and advice to get me through my dental degree! In later years, and now as part of the student team, it is great to be able to do the same for others. I am passionate about encouraging people in their faith, and encouraging them to believe that God wants to use them to reach their friends and colleagues. Being part of CDF is inspiring; it’s so exciting to hear of ways to serve God through your work. Please get in touch if you are a dental student - we would love to hear from you!
Melissa Auvray
I studied dentistry at Newcastle University, qualifying in 2007. I did my VT year in a town in the middle of Exmoor, Somerset and since then have returned home to Devon where I am currently working in general practice. I am planning to go to Peru for a fortnight in September to work with the Amazon Hope project. I became a Christian at university through the witness of other dental students, and then joined CDF after that. CDF is a brilliant opportunity to meet other people who know and understand the difficulties of being a Christian in a dental environment.
Tim Bates
I qualified from Leeds in 2005 and am currently training in Oral Pathology at Newcastle Dental School. I have found CDF to be a tremendous source of encouragement and support during my time as an undergraduate and while adapting to the workplace. It has been amazing to hear how God has worked through the lives of different CDF members, both in this country and overseas.
I have been involved in several mission trips, most recently with Mercy Ships in Liberia. These experiences have undoubtedly left me overwhelmed by the need for primary, often urgent, dental care in the developing world. However, I am also passionate about making diagnostic services available to support clinicians working in these very challenging circumstances. Although I can’t quite picture where all this will lead, I continue to be humbled by God’s grace and provision at each stage of a journey which is certainly never dull!
CDF Annual Family Conference 2012
Dates for your diary:
Friday to Sunday - 5 to 7 October
High Leigh, Hoddesdon EN11 8SG
Speakers:
Kevin Vaughan, Chairman of International Christian Medical and Dental Association;
Emeritus Professor Robin Seymour.
Details will be available in due course.
Links
Elective links
N.B. Please contact Becky (click to e-mail) for more information and advice and an up to date list of possible opportunities with CDF mission partners known personally to us. For other related links, see below:
- www.healthserve.org/electives
- www.vinetrust.org
- www.bridge2aid.org
- www.hcjb.org.uk
- www.latinlink.org
- www.linkinghands.org
- www.bmsworldmission.org
- www.friendsofludhiana.org.uk
- www.marinereach.com
- www.mercyships.org.uk
- www.teaching-abroad.co.uk
- www.dentaid.org
