15th July 2024
Introducing our Dental Nursing team from our St Austell campus – Michele, Debra, and Jane! Collectively, they bring over 80 years of experience to the dental industry, ensuring top-notch education and mentorship for our students.
We are incredibly fortunate to have such a highly qualified and dedicated department here at Cornwall College. Here’s a bit more information about them:
Michele Gallagher – Study Programme Manager
“Since qualifying in 1998, I have continued to work in General Practice.
I gained further Qualifications in Radiography, Implant Nursing, Sedation, Treatment Co-ordination, Impression taking, and Specialist Endodontic Nursing.
I have worked in both Private and NHS practices and have many years Orthodontic Nursing experience as well as Practice management in London.
I moved to Cornwall in 2018 and continued to work in Practice until I joined Cornwall College in 2023.
I am registered with the GDC and currently work in Practice one day per week. This provides me with the ability to stay current, effective and efficient with my teaching, as compliance can change rapidly in practice.
Since taking on the role of Study Programme Manager and Dental Nurse Lecturer, I have worked hard to ensure the trainees have the best support and care whilst they undergo the qualification. Currently we have a 100% pass rate for all of our Trainee Dental Nurses.”
Debra Ormerod – Assessor
“Since qualifying in 2003, I have gained a vast amount of experience in the Dental profession.
I have worked in both Private and NHS practices as a Clinical Manager in Specialist Dental practices, with 5 years Orthodontic Nursing experience, am registered with the General Dental Council and held my own clinics in the Dental industry.
My main position currently is with Cornwall College since stopping full time work in general practice three years ago. I am currently registered with a Locum agency which allows me to stay current with my clinical skills and build an excellent repour with local Dental Practices.
I have gained further qualifications in Radiography, CBCT scanning, Conscious Sedation, Treatment Co-ordination, Impression Taking, Intra- Oral scanning, First Aid at Work, and Specialist Endodontic Nursing.
I have been a qualified Assessor and Tutor for 14 years and find this a rewarding part of my job, which has allowed me to observe many of our Trainee Dental Nurses with the support of the College and their Dental Practice progress into Hygiene/Therapy and Dentistry.
As a Team we will look forward to continuing to work alongside Local Dental Practices and provide dedicated training and support to all our learners.”
Jane Turner – Independent Quality Assurer
“I began working as a dental nurse when on work experience whilst still at school. I then went on to work full time in 1990 as a Dental Nurse.
I moved to Cornwall in late 1991 and had a break from nursing due to limited opportunities.
My passion was always dental nursing so, after having a family, I went back into nursing in 1999 and began my official training at Northampton College.
I qualified in the year 2000 and continued working as a dental nurse, where I went on to work as a dental nursing assessor in the very early days of NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications).
In 2009 I went on to qualify as an Independent Quality Assurer but continue as an assessor for many organisations. I assessed and worked across all college departments training assessors.
I ran my own training courses from 2006 -2013, offering the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN) and post qualifications in Radiography and oral health.
I completed the Certificate in Education and Training course in this time to develop my teaching skills. I then started work as a full time Internal Quality Assurer in 2012 for Learn Direct up to 2018, where I went on to gain my External Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice award (EQA)
I joined Cornwall College in November 2023 and am excited to see the Dental Nursing course continue to go from strength to strength.”
Our Dental Nursing Diploma is available at both our Camborne and St Austell campuses. You can find out more about our Dental Nursing diploma, including how to apply, here.
