Aspiring youngsters are often attracted to dentistry as a noble, highly respected profession.
Of the many who practice dentistry, only a few reach the higher echelons of dental academia. George Cherukara, a Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant at the University of Aberdeen Dental School, has perhaps reached the pinnacle of his clinical academic career. He disagrees, however, pointing to the dynamic pace at which dentistry is evolving. “There is something new to learn every day, hence the emphasis on life-long learning,” he remarks. There is a depth to his eyes as he speaks. George finds a strange charm about London, a wicked city that attracts him like a nail to a magnet. That’s why he finds time to get back to London as the principal specialist at the Sterling Dental College. More about that later.
Background and early memories
George was born in Kerala, South India. His eyes shine as he introduces Kerala as ‘God’s Own Country’, blessed by nature, people, cuisine, variety and dynamism!
His childhood memories are many- of growing up in a large close knit family of five siblings, with one sister, the princess! His brothers being his heroes; a fiercely protective and loving Dad and Mum, the pains of rebellion of adolescence, the shocks of adulthood and the realities of life - the transition from a protected and loving childhood to manhood.
“Also my dear grandparents. We lost our grandfathers very early, but were blessed by loving grandmothers.” George’s maternal grandmother “probably shaped and influenced my personal life, and my paternal grandmother my professional life.” He explains “The way I see and respond to people, help others, my calmness, my patience - well most of the time (he laughs). My dad was a surgeon and spent some years abroad while I was in a boarding school. I used to spend holidays with my grandmothers. My paternal grandmother was more alive to the ‘New World’, with astute business acumen, a confident, matter of fact person”. “I had my fair share of being naughty as a child, sweet though, according to my aunts and uncles; a tricky kid nevertheless. But my grandmothers were very caring. They ‘understood’ me and realised it was all part of growing up in my own unique way”.
George believes his father influenced his career choice. “But becoming a dentist was probably influenced by one of my Dad’s friends. He was a dentist, but a gifted artisan. I used to admire his creations, not just the dentures he made, but the sculptures he made with waste Plaster of Paris; of birds, animals and humans. As a young boy I thought that is what I get to do when I become a dentist too!”
Turning Point
George graduated in Dentistry from the University of Bangalore, Karnataka, the IT capital of India. He came to the UK in ’96. Moving to the UK was the dentist’s biggest turning point in life. He says, “till then I was a happy go lucky kinda guy. But coming here, I was taken from my comfort zone, priorities changed, soon I had a young family. Little Joshua and Jonahthan brought purpose to my life. I started climbing the academic and career ladder. In hind sight, I wonder if, at some point work took over my life.” For his Masters, he went to Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, where he also got a PhD in Dentistry. “I was fortunate to have had caring mentors who encouraged me, and supported me”.
Challenges
“We all find life challenging at various points, we meet those challenges with conviction and persevere. We are committed to the cause - to being good, to keeping it simple. Being a full time student with a young family is a challenge that many have faced; the support mechanism called family sees us through tough times”.
Sterling Work
George co-hosted the Sterling Charity Ball with Dr Parvin Kapoor and his team on December 3rd that raised a lot of funds for good causes. He appreciates the Sterling Dental Group ethos. Mr Amarjit Khambay, at the helm of the Group, is a committed philanthropist, and has raised large sums of money for projects ranging from children’s charities such as Great Ormond Street to cancer care in less developed parts of the world. “I am proud to be associated with the Sterling Dental Group. To be working is good, but to be working with good people is even better”.
