Professor Mike Mulcahy has been awarded the Faculty Medal, which recognises the most exceptional contributions to the general dental profession through the Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP(UK), and is the highest honour bestowed by the organisation.
A founding member of the Faculty, he is currently Director of its Certificate and Diploma in Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry, as well as Professor of Primary Dental Care at the University of Kent.
Professor Mulcahy qualified from Leeds Dental School in 1972, and undertook house officer appointments in oral surgery and periodontology before entering general dental practice on the south coast of England. In 1975 he set up his own practice, and within 15 years had expanded it into the six surgery, multi-clinic Strand-Dental. This was one of the first practices in the UK to receive Investors in People accreditation, and Mike was selected to become one of the British Dental Association’s Masterclass Trainers, with a remit to roll out communication and business skills to other UK practices.
After achieving the Membership in General Dental Surgery award of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS) in 1983, he became a Vocational Training Adviser in Brighton, and later Regional Adviser within the London Deanery, training other trainers and advisers. In 1997 he left his teaching role and was appointed Chief Dental Adviser to BUPA, a role he retained when BUPA sold its dental division to Denplan. In 2005 he sold Strand-Dental to concentrate on academia and consultancy, and opened a small dental practice in his home, and was later appointed as a member of the Society of Industrial Leaders at Standard & Poor’s Vista Research.
Professor Mulcahy receives the Faculty Medal from FGDP(UK) Dean, Ian Mills
In addition to various roles on the National FGDP(UK) Board – including serving as Dean from 2003-06 – Mike has also been the Course Director of both the MSc in Primary Dental Care and the Masterclass in Facial Aesthetics, remains Chairman of the Restorative Management Board, and is currently leading the development of the College of General Dentistry’s programme in Non-Surgical Facial Aesthetics. He was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the RCS for his service to the college, and also received the British Society for General Dental Surgery’s Cottrell prize for his contribution to postgraduate dental education.
The Faculty Medal, instituted last year, was presented at the FGDP(UK) annual dinner in March by the Faculty’s Dean, Ian Mills, who said:
“The Faculty Medal is the highest honour we can bestow on a colleague, and it is my great pleasure to make this award to Professor Mulcahy. Mike has made an outstanding contribution to the FGDP (UK) during its 28-year existence and has served the Faculty in a variety of roles, including Dean. It is noteworthy that far from reducing his commitment to the Faculty following his term of office, he has continued to make a significant contribution, particularly within education where he has been instrumental in the success of our Restorative Diploma programme.
“Mike’s passion, knowledge and willingness to support others exemplify the values of FGDP (UK). He has been an inspiration to many, and I would particularly like to thank him for his generous support and wise counsel during my own term of office. Mike has received many awards during his career, and it is fitting that the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) has recognised his contribution to the profession by presenting him with the Faculty Medal.”
Notes to editors
- The Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) is based at the Royal College of Surgeons of England. It provides services to help those in general dental practice raise standards of patient care. It does this through standards setting, providing education courses and assessments, CPD, policy development, research and publications. Membership of FGDP(UK) is open to dentists and other registered dental professionals.
- For FGDP(UK) enquiries, please contact Jamie Woodward, Head of Professional Affairs, on 020 7869 6759 or emailjwoodward@fgdp.org.uk.
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