“The core objective of my presidency is to strengthen collaboration between the EFP and its member societies”

Iveta Ramonaite, Dental Tribune International

Fri. 8. May 2026

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Prof. Mia Rakić, newly appointed president of the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP), brings to the role a strong academic and clinical background in periodontics, oral medicine and oral histology. As professor of histology at the University of Bern and head of the Robert K. Schenk Laboratory for Oral Histology, she is recognised for her expertise in the personalised management of bone pathologies. In this interview with Dental Tribune International, Prof. Rakić discusses her priorities for the EFP presidency, including strengthening collaboration between national societies, building a stronger evidence base for periodontal health policy and positioning periodontics as a discipline that supports both oral and overall health.

European Federation of Periodontology President Prof. Mia Rakić has highlighted the growing importance of periodontics in health policy. (Image: Prof. Mia Rakić)

Prof. Rakić, you have been actively involved with the EFP for many years. How has this journey shaped your vision as its newly appointed president?
My years of work with the EFP have helped me understand the complexity of supporting a strong and connected periodontics community across Europe. This has also allowed me to understand the scale of the EFP and to shape a concrete action plan for my presidential year.

As the youngest president in the organisation’s history, what opportunities do you see for increasing the involvement of younger dental professionals within the EFP?
I am proud to lead a multinational federation that brings together different generations and perspectives from across Europe. The EFP actively encourages the involvement of younger generations across the whole range of its activities—including workshops and congresses such as EuroPerio and the Perio Master Clinic. When I first joined the EFP leadership, one of my key responsibilities was Gum Health Day, which then focused on engaging younger generations. That experience reinforced my belief that young professionals will play a crucial role in the future of periodontics and oral health.

During my presidency, I would like to explore ways to involve young professionals more directly in collaborations with medical societies focusing on cardiology, neurology, endocrinology and gastro-enterology, since emerging evidence points to close links between periodontal health and these medical systems. Younger professionals are often more effective in communicating complex information to different audiences, including healthcare professionals, policymakers and patients. Therefore, I truly believe in their decisive role in bridging these gaps.

Having worked across different European countries, how do you plan to strengthen collaboration in periodontics research and clinical practice across Europe?
My work across different European countries has helped me appreciate the strength of a federation able to unite 47 national scientific periodontic societies. This synergy of diverse approaches in education, research and clinical practice is what makes the EFP both unique and strong. Therefore, the core objective of my presidency is to strengthen collaboration between the EFP and its member societies.

One of my priorities is to establish a European scientific network within the EFP. This platform would foster connections between individual researchers, national societies and EFP committees, improve knowledge exchange and ensure the rapid identification, consolidation and, most importantly, translation of emerging priorities into action.

One of your key priorities is building a stronger evidence base for periodontal health policy. What concrete steps will the EFP take to translate research into policy and everyday clinical practice?
Translating research into policy and everyday clinical practice requires a structured and coordinated approach across science, education and advocacy. The first step is the effective implementation of research findings in clinical settings.

The EFP will continue to develop high-quality clinical guidelines and practical tools that support clinicians in applying current scientific knowledge in daily care, while also expanding its educational and certification programmes. Together, these efforts will help clinicians rapidly integrate the latest scientific evidence into everyday patient care.

As part of its 2026–2030 strategic plan, the EFP is committed to strengthening its influence on policy and expanding public awareness at the national, European and global levels. By positioning periodontal health as a critical component of public health, the EFP aims to advocate for policies that recognise the role of periodontics in preventing and managing chronic diseases, reducing health inequalities and enhancing quality of life.

“Translating research into policy and everyday clinical practice requires a structured and coordinated approach across science, education and advocacy.”

Building on this, we aim to develop a coordinated European framework for epidemiological and surveillance studies to generate robust, comparable data across countries. This stronger evidence base is essential to support effective advocacy with bodies such as the European Commission and World Health Organization. The EFP is a founding member of the Platform for Better Oral Health in Europe, which works with the European Commission to advocate for better policies across Europe and to promote more effective management strategies in the practice of periodontics. As an EFP delegate to the platform, I will actively contribute to strengthening the positioning of priorities in periodontics.

How has your academic and research background influenced your priorities for the EFP presidency?
Cutting-edge research and education represent the driving force of the EFP. Working at one of Europe’s leading periodontics departments and leading a reference laboratory for oral histology—with decades of expertise in periodontal and implant research—has given me deep insight into the field’s key priorities and how they can be addressed effectively. This has motivated me to build the EFP scientific network, which will enable member societies to address the main priorities in periodontics and implant dentistry more effectively through coordinated research efforts.

Looking ahead, which upcoming EFP initiatives are you particularly excited about?
Well, I am preparing a surprise for young periodontists. I can’t reveal more yet, but I believe that this will energise the entire periodontics community.

During my presidency this year, I will actively collaborate with the EuroPerio12 organising committee to ensure the success of this congress in 2028, as well as support the organisation of the EFP’s first event in South America, and the second in Latin America: the International Perio Master Clinic to be held in Brazil from 30 April to 1 May 2027. This initiative will strengthen our international presence and foster new collaborations. I look forward to seeing everyone there!

Finally, I would like to emphasise that periodontics is proudly one of the most sustainable dental specialties. By definition, it invests knowledge and skills to preserve natural teeth—even those once considered hopeless—and this core value must never be neglected.

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