The Educational Supervisor: Jill Geaney: I am the practice owner and have been an Educational Supervisor (ES) since 2002. I am also honorary clinical tutor part time at the Royal London Dental School and one of the Outreach centres alongside working as ES at my practice so I am accustomed to the difficulties faced by freshly qualified dentists when graduating from dental school to general practice. In 2015, I completed my MSc in Medical and Healthcare Education and have been testing my ideas ever since. I am interested in occlusion, assisting my colleague to teach practical aspects of occlusion all over the world and I also place implants with which I will arrange for the Foundation Dentist to assist. I am still very proud to be a dentist after all my years in practice and hope to give my FD similar enthusiasm.
Kate Pearce: I have worked at Wedgwood House for four years. I am currently undertaking a PGCert in Education which has really helped my understanding grow of all the different aspects of education including how people learn differently and the importance of reflective practice. When not in the practice I enjoy taking my dog on long walks in the countryside and by the sea. I enjoy watching films, going to the theatre and the odd spot of baking.
Richard McCormick: I qualified from dental school at the University of Liverpool in 2015, completed my foundation training at Wedgwood House and have stayed on as an Associate. I have a broad range of dental interests, but I particularly enjoy restorative and oral surgery. I recently carried out dental charity work in the Philippines and hope to do more in the future. I live in Norwich with my wife and dog. In my spare time I play guitar and am an Everton supporter.
The Practice: Wedgwood House Dental Practice is a family practice with many patients attending since the practice opened in April 1999. We have an open door policy to ensure the FD is happy and well supported. A diverse range of patients awaits you with all manner of presenting problems and we guarantee support for you as a new dentist to meet the every day challenges that practising dentistry in the NHS presents. We are fully computerised for records, radiographs and appointments using SOE Exact. Very pleasant support staff will help you all the way and we have the an excellent part-time hygienist.
When looking for a new member of staff we search for someone who could be an extended member of our family. We spend time together outside work in leisure activities such as visits to the local curry house and bingo.
The practice is in a location just outside the centre of Stowmarket, easily reached by public transport but also with the convenience of a car park round the back of the practice
The Area: Stowmarket is a rural town with around 20,000 inhabitants in the town and surrounding area. It is possible to buy or rent premises at a reasonable price or to share rooms close by. We have several gyms, a tennis club, and a cinema in the town and several golf clubs close by. The town will never compare to the bright lights of the big cities but it is possible to walk, cycle or drive easily around town and the "Stowmartians" are friendly and keen to have NHS dentistry in their town.
Nearby cities and towns include Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Norwich, Colchester and London, all of which are within easy reach by car, train and bus.
Other Points of Interest: The Dental Foundation Training Schemes local to me are Ipswich and Norwich, both of which hold their training days mostly on a Friday. Former FDs have assisted with a charity day for Chernobyl children which involves restoring the teeth of children identified by the Belarussian Health Board as requiring assistance. We are the dental practice for the mid-Suffolk link group.
Six of the FDs of the practice have stayed on as Associates giving the patients much needed continuity and more than half of the FDs have gone on to take further qualifications to build their careers, most recently the MJDF part 1 qualification.