Julian English spoke to Ian Kok about his achievement at the Irish Dentistry Awards.
How does it feel to have won an Irish Dentistry Award?
It feels fantastic. The amount of talent we have in this country is superb and I’m very honoured to have been mentioned among them.
How did it feel when your name was announced?
It was a little hard to believe when I saw the email, to be honest.
I was going up against strong competition and to have won means so much to me. After that, I could not wait to share it with my friends, family and my Dame Street Dental team, as they have helped and inspired me since the beginning.
What do you think have been the main benefits of entering the awards?
Being able to push myself even more to learn and try to improve every day. Dentistry is a profession that is constantly changing and keeping up is very important.
I have been inspired by many of the contestants who have entered this competition.
Have you entered before?
No, I have not. This was my first time entering something like this and I recommend this to anyone trying to get better in what they love to do.
What do you think the Irish Dentistry Awards are doing for standards within the profession?
They are raising the bar every year. It shows that even though we are a small country, the level of skill the dental profession here has is immensely high.
What advice would you give people who are thinking of entering the awards?
Just be authentic and be yourself. Work on your strengths (but don’t ignore your weaknesses) and don’t be afraid of trying new things. You are a respected healthcare professional in this society and you’re only going to get better from here!
What’s your favourite product of the last 12 months and why?
The Optrasculpt with the Optrasculpt pad by Ivoclar. Essential for composite bonding, or any manipulation of filling material. The soft pad is useful for blending it against the tooth and does not scratch at all.
Will you be entering the awards again?
I have no doubt I will be entering again, but this time with my Dame Street family and we will go as a team.
Visit www.dentistry.co.uk/awards for the latest information on when these awards will launch and put the ceremony date of 9 September (Dublin) in your diary.
