Mayo dentist honoured for 'extraordinary care beyond dentistry'

Mayo dentist Dr. Miriam Grady has been named the Colgate Caring Dentist of the Year 2024 for Connacht/Ulster in recognition of her exceptional kindness and support during a patient's most challenging days.

She was lauded for remarkable compassion shown to the family of Tommy, a 72-year-old (described by his wife as a 'young 72') who was diagnosed with the neurodegenerative Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD).

While Tommy had recently received dental treatment, his wife reached out to Dr. Grady to inquire if she had noticed any signs of mental decline during his visits.

Although Dr. Grady had not observed any, this inquiry marked the beginning of a friendship that went far beyond dentistry.

Dr. Grady, based in Ballina, invited Tommy and his family for lunch on several occasions and even arranged a visit to Knock for a healing mass.

Her extraordinary kindness left a lasting impact on Tommy’s family. After Tommy’s passing in September 2023, his widow expressed her gratitude: “Our family will always be grateful to Miriam for the extraordinary care and kindness she showed to Tommy and to us in the most difficult time of our lives.”

Dr. Grady's dedication and compassion highlight the vital human connection at the heart of her profession, making her a deserving recipient of this award.

Meanwhile, Ballinrobe Dental have been named the Colgate Caring Dental Team of the Year for 2024. The team received this prestigious honour in recognition of their professionalism and willingness to go above and beyond for their patients.

A long-term patient nominated the Ballinrobe team for the award, describing their care as 'always outstanding'.

In her submission, she wrote: “Their professionalism exceeds that of any practice I have visited over the years.” She added: “Patrick (O'Beirne) is blessed to have such a wonderful team, and they are all wonderful dentists.”

The patient who nominated the team, which includes Nora, Lucia and Aisling, described them as 'phenomenal'.

Now in its 17th year, the Colgate Caring Dentist of the Year Awards 2024 celebrate dentists in their local communities who have provided dental treatment and care that has gone over and above for their patients.

There are eight award categories, including the overall Colgate Caring Dentist of the Year and winners from each of the four provinces, as well as a Dublin winner.

Hosted by the Irish Dental Association and title sponsor Colgate, this year saw almost 1,000 nominations received from dental patients and their families all over the country.

The winners were announced at a gala awards ceremony that took place at the Intercontinental Hotel, Dublin, on Saturday night.

Speaking at the awards, the President of the Irish Dental Association, Dr. Rory Boyd, congratulated all the winners and nominated dentists.

He stated: “Each year we’re inspired by the incredible impact dentists and their teams have on their patients' lives. The Caring Dentist of the Year Awards provide the perfect stage to celebrate these heartwarming stories.

“What makes these awards truly unique is that the nominations come directly from the patients themselves, reflecting their deep gratitude and appreciation. Congratulations to Dr. Grady and all our winners and nominees for their remarkable achievements and the extraordinary care they bring to their communities every single day.”

Rukiya Ibrahim, marketing director of Colgate Palmolive, has paid tribute to the patients who share their very personal stories.

“We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the patients who shared their stories and took the time to nominate their dentists. Your voices make these awards truly meaningful.

“At their core, these awards celebrate the patients and the exceptional care they’ve received. We’re thrilled to once again support this inspiring program and shine a spotlight on these incredible experiences.”

The overall winner of the Colgate Caring Dentist of the Year was Dr. Tom Quilter, St. John's Dental Clinic, Tralee, Co. Kerry, with the Young Dentist of the Year accolade going to Dr. Amanda Twomey, Boyne Dental & Implant Clinic, Navan, Co. Meath.

The winners were announced at a gala awards ceremony that took place on Saturday last at the Intercontinental Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin.