The West Country - Introducing the regional co-ordinator

Wendy Bull

My background

I started my career in dentistry in 1995 after moving to Bristol from Bournemouth. After leaving school I served in the Royal Navy as an administrator and then went into nursing, specialising in psychiatry. These skills came in handy when I became the mother of two boys, gave up nursing and opened my own convenience store in Poole, Dorset.

It was by pure chance that dentistry became a part of my life. After skimming through the yellow pages to find a dentist near my new home, I found a practice and made an appointment. Upon visiting the practice I found they were a very friendly bunch and we soon got chatting about jobs and family. I happened to say that I was job hunting at that time and thought no more of it. The next day the principal called me and asked if I would be interested in the vacant receptionist/manager job and the rest, as they say, is history.

After a few months in the job I soon realised that there was more to dentistry than making appointments and looking at teeth. I felt I needed to learn as much about all aspects of running a dental practice as I could so over the next eleven years at that practice, I gained my Certificate in Dental Practice Management, trained in-house as a dental nurse and have more recently completed my Diploma in Practice Management.

Being a member of the BDPMA played a big part in my personal development culminating in becoming regional co-ordinator 18 months ago. Through this position I have also gained experience in events organising and how nervous one person can feel chairing a seminar!!!

What I have gained from being a BDPMA member 

Things have certainly changed since I joined the Association over eleven years ago. Back in those days we were a small group and now we have grown into a very professional and dynamic body of managers supporting a much more recognised group of people.

It has been a long road to travel getting recognition from the dental industry for the importance and skills required of a professional practice manager and the BDPMA has contributed enormously towards that. I personally would not have achieved as much without their support and encouragement in providing affordable learning events, a great source of information and above all, the friendships that I have made with other practice managers that I will have for life. It has given me a sense of identity in what can be a very lonely job.

My vision for the South West region

As regional co-ordinator I would like to encourage local members to feel that they could contact me if they needed help or advice either on issues concerning them at their practice or their career development. Having recently completed my diploma I would like to encourage managers not to be fearful of formal qualification and promote the career development grant which is a great offer to our members.
By improving personal communication I hope to increase the attendance at our regional seminars. I think that many members miss out on the opportunity the seminars give them to network with other managers and really enjoy a great day.

My advice to anyone new to the role of practice manager

Make sure your role is clearly defined within the practice. Being able to encourage your practice to work together as a cohesive team is one of the  biggest challenges. For the team to respect and support you within your role have confidence in your abilities and maximise your potential by taking advantage of the support that being a member of the BDPMA gives you.

Please add the following information to the Regional Events sections for the North West.

simply click on my email address to get in touch wendy.bull@hotmail.com