GUM, an oral care brand of Sunstar, in partnership with the European Dental Hygienists Federation (EDHF), has announced the winners of the 2025 GUM European Award of Distinction.
The award, presented by the Sunstar Foundation, recognizes outstanding contributions by dental hygienists across Europe.
The 2025 GUM EDHF European Award of Distinction winners are:
- Full Time Clinician: Emily Gumina, Switzerland, dental hygienist, Splendente SAGL, Magadino
- Public Health: Tracey Kinsella, United Kingdom, dental hygienist, University Dental Hospital, Cardiff
- Research: Peggy van Spreuwel, the Netherlands, dental hygienist, Hogeschool Utrecht
- Entrepreneur: Joyce van Loock, Belgium, dental hygienist, Puurs-Sint-Amands and UC Leuven-Limburg
- New RDH: Anouk Loeffen, the Netherlands, dental hygienist, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen
- Academia: Emma Bingham, United Kingdom, dental hygienist and Professor, University of Sheffield
Mayumi Kaneda, director of the Sunstar Foundation, said: “We would like to congratulate the winners on their incredible achievements. This award was created to celebrate the hard work of the best dental hygienists across Europe who have demonstrated excellence in their respective category. They have shown an incredible standard and are truly inspirational in their field.”
All nominations were judged blindly by an independent selection committee from the EDHF, consisting of internationally recognized dental hygienists. Adds Ellen Bol, president of the EDHF: “It’s something we can truly be proud of – dental hygienists who are so dedicated to their profession that they go beyond the ordinary, making a lasting contribution to people’s oral health and to the continued growth and professionalism of the dental hygiene field.”
Each of the winners of the 2025 GUM EDHF European Award of Distinction will receive a €1,000 cash prize along with automatic entry to the 2026 World Dental Hygienist Awards.
In addition to the World Dental Hygienist Awards, GUM and the Sunstar Foundation promote other awards for professionals, including the World Perio Award and the Perio Link Award, as well as research and innovation grants to raise awareness of the importance of oral health and support oral care professionals.
