Professor Jimmy Steele CBE has died
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- Published: Monday, 20 November 2017 17:45
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Tributes have been paid to Emeritus Professor Jimmy Steele CBE, the former Head of Newcastle Dental School who died peacefully at the age of 55. In 2009, he chaired the Steele Review of NHS Dentistry, on which the piloting of a new GDS contract is based. He was appointed CBE in the 2012 New Year Honours and was awarded the BDA Tomes Medal last year.
Jimmy and his wife (Katie Bushby, Professor of Neuromuscular Genetics at the Institute of Genetic Medicine) began working at Newcastle University in 1989. His health service research included work in primary care, clinical trials, health economics and quality of life measurement.
He was the author and contributor to a number of books in areas such as restorative and preventative dentistry. Jimmy was one of the leading experts who worked on the Children’s Dental Health Survey in 2003 and 2013, as well as the 1998 and 2009 Adult Dental Health Survey.
BDA Chief Executive Peter Ward said: "Jimmy was a man of enormous intellect and of great humanity. For a man of such insight and wisdom it was remarkable that he never lost touch with the grass roots of his profession. A dentist's dentist, he was charged with reviewing the way NHS primary care dentistry is delivered in England, and diligently researched the matter and added his own insight to produce his eponymous report.
"As an educator and academic the quality and quantity of Jimmy's research and his passion for his students marked him out as exceptional. His joy of life and his wicked sense of humour made him great fun to be with and his company was sought by students and colleagues alike. His passing will leave a void in the UK dental profession.”
Professor Chris Day, Vice-Chancellor and President of Newcastle University, knew Jimmy for more than 20 years. He said: “Jimmy was hugely respected around the world as a leader in his field and will be sadly missed by all of those who knew him both professionally and personally. His strong background in research and education led him to take on a number of national leadership roles which were pivotal in shaping dental services across the UK to enable the best care for patients.
“Jimmy was passionate about finding ways to improve the quality of care for patients and making a difference to people’s lives. He was also an outstanding teacher, I will always remember the warmth he showed when sharing his knowledge with the hundreds of students he has inspired over the years.”
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