The Sir John Walsh Research Institute and the Faculty of Dentistry are today farewelling our Dean, Professor Gregory Seymour, and our foundation Clinical Research Director, Associate Professor Mary Cullinan. After eight years at the University of Otago, Professor Seymour and Associate Professor Cullinan are retiring to Queensland to be closer to family.
Professor Seymour's achievements as Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry included overseeing the establishment of the Sir John Walsh Research Institute in 2007 under the Directorship of Professor Jules Kieser(1950-2014). The growth in research capability and productivity in the Faculty since the establishment of the Institute is demonstrated by the Faculty's strong performance in the most recent Performance Based Research Funding quality assessment.
As Dean, Professor Seymour oversaw the introduction of the research-focused Doctorate of Clinical Dentistry degree for specialist dentist qualifications, replacing the traditional Master of Dental Surgery. Professor Seymour also advocated strongly over many years for a replacement for the current dental school building, a project which is now at the advanced stages of planning. In 2008, Professor Seymour became only the second dentist (after fellow Australian Sir John Walsh) to be elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand.
As researchers, both Professor Seymour and Associate Professor Cullinan were highly productive and successful researchers who made significant contributions to their research fields, to the Oral Molecular and Immunopathology research programme (which Professor Seymour co-directed), and to oral health research here and internationally. Together with Professor Seymour, Associate Professor Cullinan was a driving force behind the establishment of the SJWRI's Clinical Research Programme, and of the dental practice-based research network ARCH (Advancing Research through Clinicians' Hands).
The SJWRI would like to thank and congratulate Professor Seymour and Associate Professor Cullinan on all their successes in their time here, and wish them all the very best in their retirement.
Portrait of Professor Greg Seymour, commissioned by the Faculty and the Division, and unveiled at his and Associate Professor Cullinan's official University farewell on 12 December 2013.
Professor Greg Seymour's research profile
Associate Professor Mary Cullinan's research profile
Dental school dean retiring (Otago Daily Times, 21 Jan 2014)