Barbara Anna Geddes

Primary Care Tutor, PGMDE

Barbara passed away after an accident at home on 26 March 2009.

Barbara graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Dental Surgery at Edinburgh University in 1972. She was appointed a Senior Dental Officer in 1973 at Cardiff Dental Hospital which marked the start of a long and happy association with Cardiff Dental Hospital and ultimately Cardiff University.

In 1978 she was appointed a part-time GDP and subsequently a Clinical Teacher at Cardiff Dental School, where she taught Restorative Dentistry. Following this she was appointed a part-time lecturer in the University of Bristol which she continued to combine with her sessions in the general dental practice in Usk that she ran with her husband Stuart. She was also a mother combining her career with bringing up her two children, Rachel and Anthony. She was an enthusiastic learner and also gained a BA in Divinity, the MFGDP(UK) and the Diploma in Postgraduate Dental Studies (Cardiff).

In 1998 Barbara was appointed Postgraduate Tutor for South Wales, of the Dental Section PGMDE, based at Llandough Postgraduate Centre. She ran an invigorating and extensive programme of Continuing Education for Dentists in the area. She was complemented by both speakers and course participants, for her attention to detail, she attended the majority of her educational programme and ensured that everything went well on the day. To quote Barbara "Courses must be directed to informing, updating and engendering enthusiasm for further knowledge as well as meeting the requirements for re-accreditation for dentists. Put simply, I do not want dentists to attend courses to meet the statutory requirement, learning should be fun." In 2002 she was appointed a Continuing Professional Development Tutor within the Dental Postgraduate Section, where she was instrumental in developing a Continuing Professional Development Portfolio for Dentists.

She was involved in south east Wales, visiting Dentists and assisting them in devising their own Personal Development Plan. It was a natural step up when she was appointed Primary Care Tutor for Wales in 2006. She has been responsible for running the Primary Care Training Scheme, which encompasses training for returners to practice, Dentists from non UK countries and those wishing to demonstrate "equivalence" to Dental Vocational Training.

She was highly committed to her programme and those on it, always ensuring that all participants had all the help, pastoral care, and encouragement that they needed. Barbara was also involved with the Faculty of General Dental Practice of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, where she was a Board Member for many years. She was also the Dental Member on Monmouth Local Health Board. The Dental Postgraduate Section, wish to extend our sincerest condolences to Stuart, Rachel and Anthony.

Ann Rockey,

Deputy Director Dental Postgraduate Education