Professor Geoffrey Heithersay AO first joined the part-time staff of the Faculty of Dentistry in 1962 following four years of postgraduate study in the UK and Sweden. Since that time he has a long history of specialist endodontic practice in Adelaide and University undergraduate and postgraduate teaching particularly in the field of dental traumatology. He has been active in clinical and basic research and has 69 published papers and has contributed to seven book chapters. In 2001 he was awarded The University of Adelaide’s most senior degree: the Doctor of Dental Science which was based on a two volume thesis entitled “Invasive Cervical Resorption and Associated Endodontic Research”.

Awards include an Officer of the Order of Australia for post graduate endodontic education in 1998 and the Louis I Grossman Award of the American Association of Endodontists for significant research studies in 2000. In 2009 Geoff received three awards for excellence in teaching - the Faculty of Health Sciences Executive Dean’s Award, The Stephen Cole the Elder Award and The University of Adelaide’s Vice Chancellor’s Award. He has been a recipient of Honorary life Memberships of the Australian Society of Endodontology, the Australian New Zealand Academy of Endodontists and the Adelaide University Dental Students Society and is also a recipient of Fellowships from four International Dental bodies.

Outside his professional life Geoff treasures his family life with wife Helen, four adult children, nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren and also enjoys golf, tennis, flute playing and sculpting.