Dr John Walsh appointed head of dental faculty

The Faculty of Dentistry at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) has elected Dr John Walsh as its new dean.

Dr Walsh, a native of Dublin, is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, as well as the paedodontic program at Indiana and the orthodontic programme at Seattle. Dr Walsh was the first European to successfully complete the American Board of Paediatric Dentistry in 1989. Dr Walsh holds a Fellowship from RCSI, as well as Fellowship of the International College of Dentists and the American College of Dentists. Dr Walsh has previously served on the Irish Dental Council, the Council of the Irish Dental Association and the Board of the Faculty of Dentistry at RCSI.

Speaking following his instalment, Dr Walsh paid tribute to the outgoing Dean, Professor Gerard Kearns. He said: “I would like to thank Gerry for his leadership of the faculty over the past three years. In particular, I would like to acknowledge his drive and enthusiasm for the faculty’s activities both in Ireland and overseas.

“A particular achievement during Gerry’s Deanship was his leadership in establishing the first sitting of the Diploma of Primary Care Dentistry (DipPCD RCSI). This qualification was developed by the faculty (RCSI) in partnership with our stakeholder colleagues at the Irish Dental Association (IDA) and the Irish Faculty of Primary Dental Care (IFPDC). The DipPCD (RCSI) offers a real opportunity for primary care dentists in Ireland.”

Commenting on his ambitions for his deanship, Dr Walsh said that he looked forward to working with colleagues in dentistry in Ireland and overseas with the aim of enhancing clinical training and dental practice – which is ultimately to the benefit of patients. In particular he said he was looking forward to continuing to work with the dental community in Ireland, notably the IDA and IFPDC, with the aim of developing already-established links.