Norman Freedman has received The British Dental Trade Association Award for his outstanding contribution to the dental industry.
Norman was one of the first to recognise the opportunities of mail order operations, resulting in dramatically improved customer service levels and introducing the concept of next day delivery.
He went against contemporary thinking in order to implement this new approach, achieving his purpose with determination, tenacity, business acumen and dogged belief. Others followed suit and eventually this pioneering concept became the modus operandi throughout Europe.
Norman qualified as a pharmacist in 1961 and set up a chain of pharmacies before setting up Rexodent Ltd in 1984. By 1990 Rexodent had grown sufficiently to enter a joint venture with Henry Schien, the largest dental dealer in the US. In 1994, Rexodent also won the coveted Sunday Times Business of the Year Award, beating Microsoft into second place.
In addition to running a successful business, Norman has been a council member of the British Dental Trade Association and the British Dental Health Foundation and has also served on a Medicines Control Agency committee.
He received award at the recent BDA Honours and Awards Dinner in London, sponsored by the British Dental Trade Association. The evening featured presentations in recognition of services to dentistry and the BDA and, for the first time, a range of new awards presented by other dental care professional associations.
The Chipping Manor Dental Practice from Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, was named as the first winner of the BDA Good Practice Scheme Practice-of-the-Year Award. The award, open to all members of the BDA Good Practice Scheme, recognises outstanding commitment to patient care by the whole dental team. The winning 23-strong team is also a keen supporter of the charity Bridge2Aid.
The honours and awards presented included BDA life membership to Peter Bainton, John Black, Stanley Gelbier and Douglas Pike. The 2007 British Association of Dental Nurses Award was presented to Paula Sleight.
Entry on the British Association of Dental Therapists Roll of Distinction was conferred upon Tracy Thompson, while BDA Fellowships were awarded to Ralph Davies, Pat Denning and Ellis Paul.
The British Dental Practice Managers’ Association Executive Award was presented to Chrissie White, and entry on the BDA Roll of Distinction was conferred upon Hilary Cook, Hugh Edmondson, John Taylor and the late Julia Campion.
The BDA John Tomes Medal was presented to Jim McDonald and the Dental Technologists Association Award was presented to Tony Griffin.
