I was born in South Africa in Gauteng on the 18th of March 1966, to parents, Alan and Mavis. I am the third child of their family of four. I finished my high school education at Mowart Park Girls high School in Durban, Natal South Africa in 1985.
After which I began training towards a qualification in nursing at, Addington Hospital. In 1990 I married Robert Holmes and I joined Rob in Botswana until 1992. On my return to South Africa I decided not to return to medical nursing due to the erratic hours required I therefore opted to go into dentistry as many of my nursing friends had done the same and really enjoyed what they did therefore I was greatly influenced by this.
I was trained hands on by the first dentist who had employed me in 1992 he was a general practitioner but chose to treat all forms of patients from peododontics, orthodontics, oral surgery, perio and aesthetics giving me a broad experience regarding dental treatment.
When he immigrated in 1997 to study orthodontics abroad I was employed by a Prosthodontist in 1997 with whom I stayed with until 2002 when Rob and I decided to immigrate to the United Kingdom. When I first arrived I worked in a mixed NHS and private practice in Wimbledon where my experience of dentistry in England began.
Whilst nursing I had a keen interest in practice management and felt that I could improve the running of the practice immensely so I approached my Principal dentist to express my concern at the dysfunction of the practice and it was decided that I would take over the management of the practice. I converted the practice from NHS to a fully private practice during my stay there. In October 2003 I left the Wimbledon practice as I needed more of a challenge and was then hired as the practice manager at the London City Dental Practice in London Bridge. There I began employment with Dr Sunit Malhan and Dr Yogesh Solanki who had ventured into their first joint partnership. Six months into my employment they invited me to a meeting offering me the opportunity to manage a second practice they were considering purchasing. I accepted the challenge and with in eighteen months I was managing four practices. Two of the four practices being private and two being NHS.
The London City Dental Practice is now part of a mini cooperate group called the dental arts studio I have been instrumental in the creation and development of dental arts studio. I am now the Operations Director who manages every aspect of the group along side my Principal Dentists. In 2007 I, won BDPMA, Practice Manager of the year. In 2008 I was nominated for most outstanding achievements at the Private Dentistry awards. My role at the dental arts studio grows everyday and I do whatever it takes to make the practices function. I would say my key strengths are practice procedures and policies and implementation of systems for monitoring the performance of the practices. I micro manage the practice mangers in each branch. I am also responsible for all the internal training with our staff from ethical dentistry to customer care training and development. After winning Practice Manager of the year I was approached by the Dental Tribune to write regular articles under the section DCP’s. I have thoroughly enjoyed my development which has challenged me beyond imaginable.
We are all in the gutter. Some of us are looking up at the stars...Oscar Wilde
We spoke to Victoria some time ago about releasing her first novel and we are now very excited to mention she has published a second novel (
Emma John is the Business Manager of Absolute Dental Practice and Absolute Dental Training. The Practice is a multi-award winning practice which has won several accolades over the years including Best Dental Support Team and Best Practice, and Emma personally received the Practice Manager of the Year award (twice). Emma John started her career young as a dental nurse and down to ambition and hard work has climbed the career ladder to achieve flourishing success.
My career in dentistry began in 2001 when I became a trainee dental nurse. Whilst working in professional practice I have gained my NEBDN qualifications in dental nursing, radiography and a dental care coordination diploma. My passion for education and my profession has continued throughout this period, culminating in my decision to undertake a degree.