GETTING TO BETTER KNOW THE MEMBERS OF THE ACADEMY
DR . KEITH MORLEY
Why did you choose to specialize in pediatric dentistry ?
My parents were comfortable financially but not wealthy . My father had just retired as a Flight Lieutenant from an extensive career in the Royal Canadian Air Force with his last posting in Winnipeg .
Dr . Keith Morley , 2015
I applied and was accepted into dentistry at the University of Manitoba and joined the Canadian Armed Forces ( CAF ) in the Dental Officers Training Plan ( DOTP ). This plan paid for all my university expenses , books , tuition etc . which was a tremendous relief for my parents , as they did not have the financial resources to fund my education .
Unfortunately my father , who was very proud of the fact that I had joined the military in addition to my acceptance into dentistry , died of a brain aneurysm during my second year of dentistry . I often reflect back upon his premature death in his early 50s with sadness as he never got to see any of my future exciting and challenging career .
I graduated with my Doctor of Dental Medicine degree with the rank of Captain . I served the CAF in the Canadian Forces Dental Service now renamed the Royal Canadian Dental Corps . I owed the CAF 5 years of service for paying for all my education .
My first posting was at Canadian Forces Base Cornwallis Nova Scotia , where I was tasked to establish a Children ’ s dental clinic for military personnel .
This experience sparked my interest in pediatric dentistry .
However I felt that my undergraduate training was inadequate as I lacked the skills to provide comprehensive care to pediatric patients especially the medically and behaviourally compromised , very young children ages 1 to 3 , and children with special needs .
My second posting was at the Canadian Forces Dental Services School ( CFDSS ) CFB Borden . During this time at the CFDSS I had the privilege of working for Lieutenant Colonel Harold Brogan who was a demanding , fair and amazing mentor . During this time he sent me on courses at the CAF School of Instructional Technique , and the CAF Staff and Administrative School . These courses gave me both the confidence and skills that would prove to be invaluable in my later career .
Lieutenant Colonel Morley CFDS , 1982
Col . Brogan also sent me on the Special Forces Canadian Airborne Regiment parachute training courses where I qualified in rappelling and as a combat parachutist in the CAF .