Contract call

1. How did you get to your present position?

My specialist background prior to my current position was as a consultant in dental public health, to which I was originally appointed in Bedfordshire in 1992.

Immediately prior to moving to the health department and immediately prior to my appointment as deputy Chief Dental Officer in January 2009 I was a consultant in dental public health across Bedfordshire, Luton and Hertfordshire primary care trusts. During my career I have been both honorary secretary and president of the British Society of Disability and Oral Health, president of the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry and chairman of the BASCD Consultants in Dental Public Health Group.

Some achievements that may be of interest include the development and implementation of the Bedfordshire Orthodontic Personal Dental Services pilot, working with the health department on national guidance for dentists with a special interest. During my role as president of BASCD I chaired the joint health department/BASCD working group which developed the practical toolkit Delivering better oral health.