Professor Philip Taylor (pictured) is to serve as the next Dean of the College’s Faculty of Dental Surgery. Professor Taylor has been an elected member of the Faculty’s Council since 2017 and is Professor of Prosthodontics at QMUL and Restorative Consultant at Barts Health NHS Trust where he is Clinical Director for Dentistry. He has been Director of the postgraduate course in Prosthodontics at QMUL for 20 years and has examined for the College at several levels.
Professor Taylor commented on his new appointment:
What are your thoughts about being appointed as Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery?
"This is the pinnacle of my career and is one of the greatest honours that anyone can have in Dentistry. I know the role will not be easy and the changing world of Dental politics and education will set the whole Dental Faculty new challenges over my three-year tenure, but I feel the knowledge I have gleaned from my current role as Clinical Director will be a transferable skill."
What was your motivation for applying for this role?
"I really want to give back to the emerging profession as much as I have been lucky enough to receive over my career from innumerable angles. I will have retired from clinical practice but think the leadership skills I have invested in will be something I can continue to use to steer the Dental Faculty to even greater things."
What are you hoping to achieve in your new role?
"My personal belief is that we need to enhance our educational offerings and within our ranks are some of the most exceptional thinkers and clinicians in the UK who we need to engage. We need to modernise and upscale our training with clear career pathways for new generations of learners right through from affiliate, to membership and on to fellowship but all the time realising that we need to maintain the membership with exciting relevant, convenient and informative new material."
Professor Taylor is the Dean Elect of the Faculty of Dental Surgery and will take up the role of Dean at the Dental Faculty’s AGM on 2 October 2020.