Some questions for Louisa
Question: What do you do to unwind at the end of a long day? Answer: I enjoy a wide range of music, from classical to 80’s pop to 90’s grunge to jazz and I particularly like live music, at The Blue Note or large festivals. Food has always been important to my family and I love growing, cooking and eating food. Hence the early morning gym sessions are a must! I am also involved with a great local charity, Caring Cooks.
Question: What do you like most about being a Dentist? Answer: I feel extremely privileged to be allowed into such a personal space and to be trusted by so many people. I also feel that I make a difference to their lives. I also like working for myself and can decide, within reason, what hours I work and how I want to work. That independence is very important to me.
Question: What do you dislike most about being a Dentist? Answer: My time spent at university studying for my dental degree didn’t teach me anything about running a small business, so I am extremely fortunate that my husband spends hours of his spare time doing all of my paperwork and my sister is the best practice manager on the Island.
Question: How did you become a Dentist? Answer: At Project Trident in 1988 I worked with Maureen Shenkin as a dental nurse and while studying for my ‘A’ Levels I worked with a wonderful dentist, John Wishart. As I got good grades in sciences, I went to Leeds University on a five year dental course. Fortunately the States paid my fees otherwise I would not have been able to go.
Any patients requiring specialist treatment are referred out of the practice often to the excellent Dental Department at the General Hospital with its very knowledgeable Maxillofacial surgeons. They see and treat everything from impacted wisdom teeth to facial cancers and oral cancer rates are extremely high in UK and early detection usually means a better outcome. That's another important reason to visit your dentist - they will
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complete oral cancer screening during your check up.
The evenings are spent happily with my husband.
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I completed my study elective at Jersey General with a hugely inspirational Consultant Maxillofacial surgeon, John Fleet, and undertook an optional sixth year of Vocational Training in York. During my degree I again worked in the holidays as a dental nurse for Paul Davies and his wife Jill who taught me respect for patients. They converted their staff room at Halkett Place into a surgery for me to work in.
I came back to Jersey as a fully qualified associate dentist in 1997 and bought my patient list in 2009, staying at Halkett Place to become Practice Principle. Eighteen months ago, I bought in as a partner at Fernlea Dental to diversify to the east of the island.
Question: What advice would you give someone, either just starting their career or midway through their career, who wants to be a Dentist?
Answer: The important thing is to get as much experience as possible. I shadowed surgeons, specialists and teachers who were all very keen to impart a love for their jobs, all on a voluntary basis. I also worked for seven different dentists as a dental nurse during holidays which is important as there are as many different styles of dentist as there are people.
EXPERIENCED 20/20 A day in the life of... Page 101
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