South Wales-based OMFS Lindsay White wins Surgeon of the Year 2020
13 January 2021 (Last updated: 14 Jan 2021 09:37)
Lindsay White, Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMFS) at the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, has won the Surgeon of the Year Award 2020 in the prestigious annual South Wales Argus Health and Care Awards.
Patients nominated Lindsay for the award, which this year was held as an online awards ceremony. The fourth year of the newspaper’s awards sets out to highlight the commitment, dedication, enthusiasm and inspiration shown by health and care workers, particularly in the face of the challenge presented by covid – and, importantly they must put the patient at the heart of what they do.
“It’s quite something that someone takes the time to write to the newspaper nominating you, it really is quite wonderful, and quite humbling. I’ve been stopped by people in the street, in the hospital and by neighbour farmers who say they’ve seen me in the paper,” Lindsay White said.
“Winning the award is a validation of what I do as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon – why I continue to do it, and why I decided to become a maxfax in the first place.”
Lindsay White is one of three in the Aneurin Bevan OMFS team, which works across the Royal Gwent, Nevill Hall and Grange University hospitals. And, when she’s not working, she continues her interest in rugby as a team medic for premier Welsh rugby teams such as the Newport-based Dragons.
She explained that she had taken a dental degree first, but soon realised that she didn’t want to be a dentist and decided to take a medical degree so she could become a maxillofacial surgeon.
“I loved the oral surgery and maxfax placements, and I’ve been in maxfax ever since! I was very much encouraged by two registrars in my early training, who worked as a team, and it was a hugely supportive approach.
“It’s pretty full on for the Aneurin Bevan OMFS unit. We each have our specialisms, and I specialise in orthognathic and skin cancer.”
One of the innovations at her trust she helped establish is a joint maxillofacial and dermatology clinic: “The joint approach is better for patient care because they don’t have to make two separate appointments, but can access the right care more quickly,” she explained.
She says that it’s good to see more women making the decision to become maxillofacial surgeons, and hopes that her award will encourage more women juniors to join the maxillofacial specialty.
“Maxillofacial surgery is about people’s faces – the essence of the person, the person you recognise and interact with. It’s such a privilege to do what I do for my patients,” Lindsay White concluded.
Image: South Wales Argus
For further information and interviews contact: Siân Evans on 020 8674 8921 / 07752 414 433 or BAOMS
Notes to editors
- The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (BAOMS) promotes the advancement of education, research and the development of oral and maxillofacial Surgery in Great Britain, and encourages and assists postgraduate education, study and research.
- Lindsay White photo caption: Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Lindsay White winner of the South Wales Argus Surgeon of the Year Award 2020
- For more information about the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
- South Wales Argus Health and Care Awards
View Other News