PerioCourses Background Information
PerioCourses was established by Phil Ower and Graham Smart when they left the Royal Air Force in 1996. Graham and Phil had lectured together on many occasions while in the RAF, mainly to GDPs and hygienists (they both, at different times, ran the RAF School of Dental Hygiene) and they wanted to continue teaching alongside their specialist practice activities. Following Graham's death in 2009, Phil continues to teach for half his working week all over the UK. Both Graham and Phil were heavily influenced by the inspirational teaching and guidance of the late Bernie Kieser.
 Philip Ower
Phil qualified from King's London in 1978. He joined the RAF after qualifying and was a general dental practitioner until taking an MSc in Periodontology in 1992, after which he was RAF Adviser in Periodontology and ran the RAF School of Dental Hygiene. After leaving the RAF he lectured at the Eastman Dental Institute and worked in several specialist practices. For 10 years he worked alongside Bernie Kieser at the Periodontal Practice in London and now practices at the Briars Dental Centre in Newbury. He is on the GDC's Specialist Register. He has been an examiner for the Royal College of Surgeons of England (MGDS) and is currently serving a second term on the Council of the British Society of Periodontology. Phil has had papers published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, Dental Update, Dental Practice and Independent Dentistry and is on the editorial board of Dental Health. He lectures throughout the UK,
and is responsible for the perio component of the FGDP(UK) Diploma in Restorative Dentistry.
 Graham Smart (1954 - 2009)
Graham Smart died on 20th June 2009, at the tragically early age of 55. His stoicism in the face of his deteriorating health was truly remarkable. His last professional engagement was a joint lecture that he gave to 900 people in Solihull, just 3 weeks before his death, a commitment that he was determined to fulfill, against all the odds. This was typical of his dedication to his profession.
Graham qualified from UCH in 1975 and after house jobs and spells in community, NHS and private practice he joined the RAF in 1980. His clinical skills and sharp intellect were quickly identified and his 16 year military career included specialist training in periodontics and posts as Clinical Adviser in Periodontics, Director of the RAF School of Dental Hygiene, RAF Postgraduate Tutor and Adviser in General Dental Practice. His outstanding contribution to the RAF Dental Branch was recognized with the award of the Lean Memorial Award in 1994. On leaving the RAF in 1996 Graham concentrated on specialist periodontal practice but, having a gift and passion for teaching, he dedicated much of his time to postgraduate education for both dentists and hygienists, as well as working in the Oxford postgraduate deanery. He was always active in the British Society of Periodontology and had the honour of serving as President of the Society in 2007/8.
Graham tackled everything with passion, whether it was dentistry, teaching, rugby or the church. He was one of the most warm-hearted, generous and enthusiastic practitioners in his field and his skills as a communicator and teacher were reflected in the enormous number of messages of condolence that were received when news of his death became known. The word 'inspiration' was used repeatedly, as was the description of 'gentleman'. He was a true gentleman and indeed a gentle man. His legacy will be the dentists and hygienists up and down the country who benefitted from his inspirational teaching, as well as the patients whose dental care improved as a result. Everyone who encountered him will remember him with enormous affection.
 Bernie Kieser (1938 - 2009)
J Bernard Kieser, known to most as Bernie, was an internationally renowned periodontal clinician, teacher and researcher.
In clinical practice, Bernie was without equal. Many of his patients stayed with him for decades and as a result many became friends, as well as patients. He cared deeply about the welfare of his patients and after his illness was diagnosed last autumn he wrote personally to all his longstanding patients to explain his situation, concerned that he was letting them down in giving up his practice so suddenly. The many replies expressed sadness, admiration, gratitude and love in equal measure. For example:
"I so well remember the day you agreed to look after me yourself and the overwhelming relief I felt - you may well have changed my life in giving me the peace of mind I craved on what may seem a minor matter to some."
"There are few people in the dental profession that one would look forward to visiting - you are one of them and I will miss these occasions greatly."
"I looked forward to each return visit....your kindness was such an encouragement - who else would have sung to me to put me at my ease for that first extraction? You are the No.1 Elvis impersonator as far as I'm concerned!"
"When one of my friends thought it strange that I should enjoy visits to a periodontist, I replied that ‘you haven't met Bernie!'"
Bernie was renowned for his views on the patient's role in the control of disease and he brilliantly negotiated that fine line between encouragement and chastisement. As one patient put it: "I always left your practice with a spring in my step, even when you had told me off!"
Bernie was a visionary researcher and together with colleagues abroad like the late Sture Nyman he conducted seminal work that is cited to this day. He was renowned for his honesty, his straight-talking, common-sense approach and for his uncompromising and razor-sharp logic. As scientist, Bernie taught his students to analyse research data ruthlessly. He taught them not to follow tradition blindly but to question everything. He taught and practised evidence-based dentistry long before it became fashionable to do so. His textbook, or The Comic, as Bernie referred to it, was published in 1991 and was a labour of love. He made enormous sacrifices to see his magnum opus come to fruition,
as of course did his wife Jenny and the family by default. It cost him dearly in blood, sweat, tears and expense but it represents the extent of his dedication to his profession as teacher, clinician and scientist. It is a fitting testimonial to a long, productive and controversial career and it is his legacy. Signed copies of the Comic are treasured items on many bookshelves.
It's often said that inspirational teachers change the course of people's lives; Bernie was one such teacher. His students were rewarded with an unequalled learning opportunity which shaped their professional careers. He taught clarity of thought and the importance of questioning received wisdom. He was a superlative communicator and the anecdotes that he used in his teaching became legendary; who can forget dental plaque described as thugs in a football stadium? Here are some of the many tributes that have been received from former students:
"I was very lucky to have been taught by Bernie. He was a wonderful teacher and a genuinely great guy, both on and off the clinic. I learned so much from him and always enjoyed his company."
"Bernie influenced a whole generation of people with his honourable, honest and questioning approach....he influenced me in all sorts of ways."
"Bernie was an inspirational teacher...I cannot think of one day in periodontal practice when I haven't used the skills he passed on."
Bernie was irascible, irreverent and utterly irreplaceable. He was also refreshingly politically incorrect and was always prepared to put his head above the parapet when most would shelter behind it. His guidance and friendship deeply enriched the lives of his students and his contemporaries. A bright light has been extinguished in periodontology and he will be sorely missed by those who had the privilege of knowing him but especially by Jenny, Sam, Nigel and his grandchildren, to whom he was devoted.
Philip Ower
Friend and Colleague
Bernie, Graham and Phil during Graham's Presidency of the BSP, Cambridge, April 2008 |
