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every week. Honestly, the first five minutes of every meeting were spent laughing at each other’s fancy dress! Recent themes have included Star Wars, France and Ancient Greece (see photos).
Having come from a non-medical background, I often find myself on the backfoot when the intricacies of medical care are discussed. I am fortunate in that my colleagues are patient in explaining the details, but I do bring more to the table as a Dental Officer than I had first realised. RADC DOs are pretty competent beings, easily capable of doing this sort of work. We do come with a background in healthcare, we tend to understand the organisation, and often the ‘dental way’ is cited as a model
to replicate. Few like it when it is suggested we “Do It Like a Dental Officer”, but they know there is something in it....not just an amusing acronym.
Do you need to do ICSC(L) to do this job?
Nope. I did ICSC(LR) a couple of years before starting this job, I think that is entirely sufficient for the work I do. I finally read JSP 101, that helped. The rest I am learning on the job.
What sort of DO should do a clinical staff post?
In my opinion, all sorts of DOs would benefit from a clinical staff job, although I’m not sure everyone would enjoy it as much as I do as it is a decent way outside most of our comfort zones. It broadens
ICSC(L)
Maj G Padgett-Duncan
Blackadder: “Am I jumping the gun Baldrick, or are the words “I have a cunning plan” marching with ill-deserved confidence in the direction of this conversation?”.
Motivations
I remember being asked early on during
my FD year if I wanted to follow the clinical dentistry career path or pursue Command and Staff. I was surprised to be asked at that stage, my focus at that point being
on consolidating my dental skills first and seeing what opportunities might arise in due course.
A few years later, after learning that PQOs could attend the Intermediate Command and Staff Course (Land Reserve) (ICSC(LR)) 2017, I applied without hesitation. It seemed an ideal opportunity to dip my
toe into the world of Command and Staff and get a taste for what it entailed. Being designed for Reserves, the course was packed into 17 back-to-back intense days. I gained some insight, but I found it
Bonjour! PMC team ‘French’ day
your horizons and gives you a solid understanding of the world outside of a DPHC Dental Centre (I promise there is one). I stay clinically current by having my ‘dental day’ one day a week. I back myself to put the drill in the right hand (and I am right- handed) and I can still remember what caries looks like. All the important things. It is no substitute for living and breathing a DPHC Dental DO post day-in day-out, but it does mean my return to clinical practice training will be less painful. I actually really love delivering dentistry too, so it’s an enjoyable day of the week...one where I actually know what I’m doing!
What should I do if I would like to do a job like this in the future?
I recommend discussing with your CoC
PMC does Ancient Greece
and getting it on your career plan. I would also recommend talking to someone who has done a job like this and do your best to get a placement. Better to do a few weeks on placement and realise it’s not for you than to realise a few weeks into a 2-year posting.
My UK-US Syndicate, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, USA. Ex EAGLE OWL
rather a whirlwind, with barely a moment to reflect or consolidate my learning. Many of the students were ex-Regular and the competition for sub-unit command was palpable.
“What is adequacy? Adequacy is no standard at all”. Winston Churchill
The RADC stands for more than our primary, essential role performing dentistry within the Dental Centres. We stand on the
wider Army stage and I felt that having Staff experience helped sustain credibility when involved in pan-Army issues. In theory, ICSC(LR) gives PQOs the ‘tick in the box’ for staff training, though does not give an automatic passport to staff posts. Possibly more of a reflection of my limitations than the course itself, I personally didn’t feel
that I was much more capable, or more credible, as an Army Officer after ICSC(LR). Therefore, rather than avoid further exposure to the Staff, I chose to stick my head above
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