Consultants

Qualifications

BDS, FDSRCPS (Glasg), MScD, FDS Paed Dent, PhD, PGCert

Special Interests

As a Paediatric dentist, I have a special interest in the oral health and multidisciplinary management of children with complex disorders, impairment and disability. I am fortunate to have been able to build my expertise and experience in several spheres of dentistry, including the Community Dental service, University and Hospital.  I have worked across the UK in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and in Sydney, Australia.

Biography

I graduated from Glasgow University Dental School in 1990 and completed Specialist training and an MScD entitled ‘Oral health knowledge, behaviours and attitudes of mothers of preschool children having dental GA’ in Cardiff, 1996.

I worked as a Senior Dental Officer & Specialist in the Community Dental services in Wiltshire and spent 2 years as Senior Registrar in Westmead Hospital, and Children’s Hospital in Sydney, Australia. I was then appointed to a clinical lecturer post at Glasgow University Dental School and awarded my PhD in 3D facial imaging of infants with Cleft Lip and Palate for analysis of primary surgical outcomes.

I completed Consultant training 2005, and following a locum Consultant appointment at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London, was appointed to MFT in 2006.

As Clinical Lead for Paediatric Dentistry at UDHM and RMCH, I led the consolidation & redesign of paediatric dental and orthodontic services for the new Children’s Hospital (2007- 2009), and the refurbishment of the Children’s Department at UDHM in 2010. I had key involvement in the establishment of Consultant-led triage of electronic referrals to secondary and tertiary dental services in Greater Manchester.

As former Training Programme Director, I established the re-invigoration of Paediatric Dentistry in the North West, by developing and expanding Specialist and Consultant training. I was Regional Specialty Advisor for the Royal College of Surgeons of England from 2007-2010. I maintain a keen interest as Lead Educational Supervisor for Paediatric Dentistry in Manchester, in the North Western Deanery. I was awarded a PGCert in Teaching & Learning in the Clinical Environment from Edgehill University in 2016.

I have been an External Examiner for the University of Adelaide PhD programme and University of Glasgow Undergraduate programme. I will be External Examiner for King’s College London Postgraduate Paediatric dentistry programme from 2020.

I further support our specialty as a member of the National Recruitment working Group for Paediatric Dentistry and an Intercollegiate Fellowship Examiner for the Royal College of Surgeons. In 2017, I was Scientific Chair of the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry National conference, hosted in Manchester and am Chair-elect of the North West BSPD Branch for 2019/20.

I have multiple in peer-reviewed publications and have contributed to the DYSCERNE (Network of Centres of Expertise for Dysmorphology) Clinical Management Guidelines for Williams and Angelman syndromes.

My main clinical focus is in tertiary care, as Specialty Lead for the Dental service, in Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (RMCH). I lead a dedicated team of multi-skilled Dental Health Unit professionals, who provide Specialist oral health care for children with complex additional medical needs, impairment and disabilities. We provide key clinical support for MiniMouthCare Matters, the ward-based oral hygiene programme in RMCH.

I believe that commitment to supporting and promoting oral health is central to children’s general health and well-being. Paediatric dentistry is an integral part of Specialist services for children and we work closely with our Paediatric medical & nursing colleagues and community & primary dental care colleagues to deliver care for children with challenging conditions.