2021, issue 19

Expanding your horizons: portfolio careers and dento-legal work

BySimon Kidd

Published14 May 2021

Have you ever considered broadening your horizons? Two of the DDU's own advisers explore and explain the benefits of a varied portfolio career.

It is the variety that has kept my working life interesting and I would encourage all dental professionals to pursue whatever aspect of dentistry keeps them engaged.

Members can call the confidential telephone helpline without fear of reprisal and will be able to discuss their concerns in confidence with colleagues who are clinicians themselves and experienced in dento-legal matters.

Simon Kidd

Head of the DDU BDS Dip.MJDF MFDS MCGDent LLM DLM

Simon gained his BDS in 2007 at the University of Glasgow and worked as a general dental practitioner in Scotland for 17 years. He attained the MJDF in 2010 and went on to gain a Master's Degree (LLM) in Healthcare Law and Ethics in 2020. Simon was a vocational trainer for many years and represented dentists on advisory groups and committees including the LDC. In 2026, Simon was appointed Head of the DDU.

Jo-Anne Taylor

Dento-legal adviser

B.Ch.d (Hons) MSc, PG Cert Medical Education, PG. Cert Medical Aesthetics, SFHEA. Jo qualified from Leeds Dental Institute in 1991 and spent 16 years providing general dental services in the UK and Australia. She has worked in private and NHS practice as well as in the Community Dental Services. Jo is a senior fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has held several teaching posts in Yorkshire and more recently in Hampshire, where among other roles she worked as Associate Head (Education) at the University of Portsmouth Dental Academy. Jo joined the DDU as a telephone adviser in 2020 and began working as a dento-legal adviser in 2021.