You have recently qualified as an orthodontic therapist – big congratulations. To inspire and encourage dental nurses who are interested in training to become orthodontic therapists or who are looking into different areas of career progression, we would love to know more about you, your career development and the courses and training you have completed to help you get where you are today.

To start off, I want to relay a quote from Theodore Roosevelt: ‘Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty’. 

As many people who know me are aware, I am always looking for a new challenge. So far, I have completed the Clarendon Walk, the Jurassic Coast Challenge and the Great South Run, to name just a few. I have now decided that I need a bigger challenge, so I have signed up to the London 2 Brighton Challenge, the aim of which is to walk 100km (around 63 miles) in 24 hours. Luckily for me, my Jurassic Coast Challenge (hence the team name ‘Dinosaur Duo’) walking friend, Polly, was persuaded to join me on this exciting (and possibly slightly crazy) adventure. 

Public Health England (PHE) are an organisation who advise and support the government, local authorities and the NHS in a professional independent manner. They use intelligence, knowledge, advocacy, partnerships and world class science to protect the nation’s health and wellbeing. 

When I was in sixth form, I went on work experience to my local dental practice. My mum had arranged it through being friends with one of the dental nurses. I had always thought I wanted to try childcare, but with my work experience placement all set up, I thought: why not?