The GDC has appointed the members of a new board to help guide the development of education and training for dentists wanting to become specialists.

The new members are:

• Peter Catchpole
• Paul Cook
• Brian Grieveson
• Elizabeth Jones
• David Smith
• Paul Wright

The Specialist Dental Education Board (SDEB), which is chaired by Professor Kevin O’Brien, will have an important role in advising the GDC 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, Chair of the GDC’s Specialist Dental Education Board, said:

“We have selected these new members from a field of exceptional quality candidates. I look forward to working with the members to start implementing the recommendations made by the GDC’s Specialist Lists Review Group.”

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Notes to editors:

1. Biographies of Members:

Kevin O’Brien (Chair), an experienced dental academic, is Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning in Manchester University’s Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences. He is a former Dean of Manchester Dental School.

Peter Catchpole, a lay member of the GDC. Peter is a Fellow of the Faculty of Health at the University of Brighton and also has number of appointments in the professional regulatory sector. He is an Independent Health Care Consultant, a business advisor to the independent health sector and is a non executive director for NHS Direct.

Paul Cook, a dentist member of the GDC, where he chairs the Education Committee. Paul is the Postgraduate Dental Dean for Yorkshire. He has a particular interest in specialist registration and postgraduate training.

Brian Grieveson, is the Postgraduate Dental Dean for Mersey based in Liverpool and has a previous background in Primary care. His special interests in dentistry include sedation, mentorship, and postgraduate dental education in general.

Elizabeth Jones, is Postgraduate Dental Dean for London. She has an interest in all aspects of postgraduate education and training having had first hand experience of delivery over many years.

David Smith, is Postgraduate Dental Dean and Postgraduate Dean (Acting) for Northern deanery. He has a wide interest in the delivery and quality assurance of postgraduate education having chaired the Conference of Postgraduate Dental Deans and Directors (COPDEND), the UK General Professional Training (GPT) Liaison Group and the Specialist Advisory Committee (SAC).

Paul Wright, is Dean of Dentistry at Barts and The London, Queen Mary’s School of Medicine and Dentistry and former Chair of the Council of Heads and Deans of Dental Schools.

2. The full recommendations of the Specialist List Review Group are available on this website.