Kilkenny native Dr Anne O’Neill appointed Irish Dental Association President

Saturday, September 26^th, 2020. Kilkenny native Dr. Anne O’Neill has been appointed as the Irish Dental Association (IDA) President, following the Association’s AGM today.

Dr. O’Neill is Assistant National Oral Health Lead in the HSE’s National Oral Health Office, working in the areas of Dental ICT, Epidemiology and Dental Public Health.

After graduating from University College Cork with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery, Dr. O’Neill joined the Eastern Health Board in September 1989.

In 1996, she was one of the first eight dentists formally appointed as a Senior Dental Surgeon with responsibilities for organising special dental care programmes in the Eastern Health Board area.

Between 2000 and 2017, Dr. O’Neill managed three different dental teams as Principal Dental Surgeon in the Northern Area Health Board. In November 2017, she was seconded as Project Manager for development of HSE Regional Dental Day Surgical Unit at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown.

She also has an MA in Health Care Management (Hons) from the Institute of Public Administration, Dublin.

As a student, Dr O’Neill was a joint recipient of the IDA Costello medal. In 1997 and again in 2001, she was appointed President of the Health Board Dental Surgeons Group (now the Public Dental Surgeons Group).

Speaking today, Dr. O’Neill said: “I am greatly honoured to take up the role of President of the Irish Dental Association. This is a hugely important time for dentistry in Ireland – and indeed for the health system as a whole. The impact of Covid-19 has been significant and demands consistent attention, and I am looking forward to engaging with all relevant stakeholders to ensure patients around the country are afforded the best quality dental care throughout my term as President and beyond.”

Issued on behalf of the Irish Dental Association by Gordon MRM