Dr Robert Kirschen (BDS, FDS, MSc, MOrth RCS) qualified as a dentist from Guy's Hospital, London, and successfully completed his specialist orthodontic training in 1980. He is registered as a specialist by the General Dental Council (Number 49493).

He started up a new orthodontic practice in Reigate in 1982. From the mid 1980s until the early 1990s, this evolved from being mainly within the National Health Service to being entirely private.

Robert Kirschen has also developed a varied career outside the practice. He is a part-time senior clinical lecturer at the Royal London Hospital, training postgraduate specialist registrars. He has been appointed to the panel of examiners at the Royal College of Surgeons who examine the specialist registrars from all parts of the United Kingdom at the end of their three year training programme.

Dr Kirschen presents courses to orthodontists in the UK and overseas. His involvement in the training of specialists benefits his patients as it ensures he keeps up to date with new developments.

Dr Kirschen is also involved in the administration of the orthodontic specialty. He has given expert evidence to the House of Commons' Health Select Committee and, for two successive years, he was Chairman of the 1,000 delegate four-day British Orthodontic Conference. For a period of nine years, he was a Scientific Advisor to the British Dental Journal and a member of its International Editorial Board and has served for four years as chairman of the Ethics Commitee of the British Orthodontic Society.

The British Orthodontic Society has honoured Dr Kirschen with a Special Service Award and he is also a member of the European Orthodontic Society and the American Association of Orthodontists.

Dr Lucy-Jane Harris (BDS, MFDS, MSc, MOrth RCS) qualified as a dentist after completing the five year degree course at King's College London in 1999. She won numerous prizes and awards during this time including the Maurice Kettle prize for Orthodontics. Her most notable award, however, was the Gold Medal of the University of London for the top-qualifying dentist.

Dr Harris gained her Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons following her work at King's College Hospital where she was a member of the head and neck cancer treatment team.

Dr Harris subsequently undertook specialist training in orthodontics at Kingston and Guy's Hospitals in London, being awarded the Philip Walther prize for the highest marks in the Master of Science in Orthodontics examination. This was also in recognition of the quality of her published research on cleft lip and palate patients. Dr Harris has since been awarded the Membership in Orthodontics by the Royal College of Surgeons and registered by the General Dental Council (number 76244) as a Specialist in Orthodontics.

Dr Harris has published scientific papers and has contributed to national and international conferences. She has lectured to General Dental Practitioners on the use of functional appliances and has a special interest in postgraduate education.

Dr Harris is a member of the British Dental Association, the British Orthodontic Society and the European Orthodontic Society.

THE SUPPORT TEAM

Lynda has been at the heart of the Practice since its early days in 1982. Lynda is a qualified dental nurse but her responsibilities have developed to include reception, management and accounts. What Lynda doesn't know about the running of the practice isn't worth knowing.

Carol joined the team in 2000 as receptionist and secretary. However, Carol's relations with the practice go back a lot further in her capacity as mother of former patients, giving her knowledge of both sides of the reception desk!

Angela is the newest member of the team having joined in 2007 as an orthodontic nurse. Angela had ten years of previous experience of general dentistry and has obtained her qualification as a dental nurse. However, her heart is now set on meeting the challenge of orthodontics.

The support team is proud of its stability and professionalism. Team stability also leads to friendship and loyalty, not only to each other, but also to our patients and to the general ethos of the practice.