The General Dental Council (GDC) has appointed Professor Kevin O’Brien as Chair of a new board to help guide the development of training paths for dentists wanting to become specialists.

Professor O’Brien, who takes up the post with immediate effect, will play a crucial role in appointing members to the Specialist Dental Education Board (SDEB) which will have an important role in advising the Education Committee on the reorganisation and running of the GDC’s specialist lists. These lists enable patients to identify registered dentists who have undergone approved training and are entitled to call themselves a dental ‘specialist’.

Kevin O’Brien, an experienced dental academic, is Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning in Manchester University’s Faculty of Medicine and Human Sciences where he is also a Professor of Orthodontics. He is a former Dean of Manchester Dental School.

Commenting on his appointment Kevin O’Brien said:

“I am pleased to have been offered this opportunity to Chair this board. I am looking forward to playing a role in selecting the members of the board and to leading the Council’s work to amend the arrangements of the training and listing of dental specialists.”

GDC President, Hew Mathewson, said:

“I am delighted that Kevin has been appointed as Chair of the Specialist Dental Education Board from a field of exceptional quality candidates. He will play a critical role in appointing the other members of the board and leading the work to develop the Council’s specialist lists which enable patients and dental professional to identify dentists. I would like to add my personal congratulations to him.”

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Notes to editors:

1. A photograph of Professor Kevin O’Brien is available on request.

2. Biography of Professor Kevin O’Brien:

Kevin O'Brien trained as a dentist at Manchester and qualified in 1979 and worked for four years in general dental practice in Middleton and Chorlton. He then returned to the hospital service as a house officer in Manchester, this was followed by SHO and Registrar appointments in Newcastle. He then returned to Manchester and completed the Manchester orthodontic specialty training programme in 1986. Following this he was appointed as a Medical Research Council Research Fellow and carried out a Ph.D research programme into the effectiveness of orthodontic treatment. In 1991 he spent a sabbatical year in Pittsburgh USA as associate professor. He was made Professor of Orthodontics in November 1995. He was Head of the School of Dentistry from 2004-2007.