Interview Continued »
became very active and we joined with them and wound up looking into bone and implants. In more recent years we have moved into areas such as ageing and connected health, which are the two topics I’m most interested in at the moment.” Prior to becoming Dean, O’Connell was
twice elected to the School’s board. He first joined in 20ı2 and was re-appointed when elections came around again in 20ı5. “I’m very happy and proud to say that I am one of the IDA (Irish Dental Association) nominees on the board. I’ve always been an IDA member and believe that the view of practitioners is extremely important as we develop education and policy.” Following the retirement of Professor
Nunn last year, O’Connell took up his new role in November. To say he is enthused by the prospect
of working with young people who are keen to enter the profession would be something of an understatement. “If you look at the people coming into dentistry there is a pool of amazingly talented people,” he said. “We are talking about school leavers who can be classed as high achievers. They are very clever and motivated. Among them are those who are eager to go into practice and others who will seek to pursue a career in specialisation, policy, research and other important areas.” He is equally excited by developments
within the profession. “For example, take the digital revolution that is going on right now, particularly in restorative dentistry, although also in areas such as implant dentistry, oral surgery, and orthodontics.” In the wake of this, the School intends to roll out a programme over the next two years that will bring digital workflow to its clinics. “This year, we are acquiring scanners,
milling machines and so on which will become part of our portfolio in the future. Our students will have the chance to familiarise themselves with this new equipment – clearly, this technology is something they will need to know about as they move into practice.”
Emphasis on access O’Connell believes the requirement for students is to focus on the ability
to undertake complex dentistry and have the desire to roll it out to those who need it. He underlined the School’s emphasis on access to care and making sure that its students are able to treat the widest range of patients without having to refer them to specialists. As with priorities, every leader needs
a clear set of goals and O’Connell pondered what might constitute his own measures of success. “From the School’s point of view we would like Dublin to be the place where both students and staff want to come to learn and work. We already attract very good people and we want to continue to be a very desirable place to learn. “From a broader perspective I would
love it if, in five years time, people in the community – other healthcare professionals and especially patients – have started to see dentists as more than the people you call on when you have a toothache. I hope dentists will be viewed as experts who you see regularly, are part of your healthcare team, can give advice on a wide range of topics and can refer you on to other professionals such as your GP, pharmacist, occupational therapist and so on.” He remains convinced that a sense of
positivity is justified. “There’s a feeling that we are through the worst of austerity and it’s time to rebuild. You can’t stay in a bunker mentality forever and I think people are ready to look forward rather than back. I, for one, am optimistic.”
Ireland’s Dental magazine 23
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