Professor Jimmy Steele CBE, author of the Steele Review and former head of dental sciences at Newcastle University, has passed away.
Professor Steele’s health service research has included work in primary care, clinical trials, health economics and quality of life measurement, he is the author and contributor to a number of books in areas such as restorative and preventative dentistry.
He was one of the leading experts who worked on the Children’s Dental Health Survey 2013 and the 2009 Adult Dental Health Survey.
Tributes
Tributes have been flooding in after the news of Jimmy Steele’s passing, including the below from 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.
‘That report was the foundation for contractual reform, and its content and approach was widely supported by the profession as representing the dentistry they wanted to do.
‘It is yet to be seen whether his fundamental principles will be followed in future reforms.
‘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.
‘It is no consolation but slight solace that the BDA was at least able to celebrate Jimmy’s contribution to his profession with the award of the John Tomes Medal at a special celebration in 2016.
‘Our heartfelt thoughts are with Jimmy’s family at this tragic time.’