Dr John Owen

Dr John R Owen graduated from the University of Western Australia in 1977 and entered private general practice in Midland at his fathers practice, Raymond Owen and Peter Gregory and Associates in Spring Park Road. This general practice was established in 1951 by his father and grandfather (jeweller turned dental technician), and always had an excellent reputation. After spending 1980 in London, studying at the Royal College of Dental Surgeons and establishing a general dental practice in Finsbury Park, he returned to Perth to undertake his specialist training and Masters degree in Orthodontics from 1981-1984. Over the next 30 years, John established two specialist orthodontic practices in the Perth suburbs of Midland and Mount Lawley. He remains the principal orthodontist and owner of Midland Orthodontists and is ably supported by four associate orthodontists and our very experienced and long serving support team.

John is active in many arenas, holding the positions of Chairman of Directors, Joint Coordinator and Principal Dentist, Kimberley Dental Team Ltd. www.kimberleydentalteam.com, Clinical Associate Professor, School of Primary, Aboriginal and Rural Health Care, UWA., Honorary Clinical Consultant, School of Dentistry, Oral Health Centre of WA., Clinical Associate Professor, School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, University of WA., Patron and Past Chair, Australian Society of Orthodontists, Foundation for Research and Education., Vice President and Regent, Section VIII, Australasian Section, International College of Dentists., Chair, WA Immediate Action Committee of the Dental Board of Australia., Foundation Member and proud supporter of the ASO, Give a Smile Program., Past Executive Committee Member, The Order of Australia

Association, WA Branch and Member, Western Australia, Oral Health Advisory Council.

During his professional career, John has been President of the University Dental Students Society, Western Australian branches of the Australian Dental Association and Australian Society of Orthodontists and Federal President of the Australian Society of Orthodontists 2000-2002. He has been President of the Dental Board of Western Australia from 1999 to 2010. He is a past director of the Australian Dental Council, past Congress Chairman for the 33rd Australian Dental Association Congress and Exhibition, Perth 2009 and was very proud to be the Honorary Consultant Orthodontist to the Disabilities Services Commission from 1986 to 2012. From 2009 to 2012 John was an Inaugural Member of the Dental Board of Australia, chairing the National Registration and Notification Committees. John is a certified member and past examiner of the Australian Orthodontic Board.

John has been recognized at many levels including being appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2010 Queens Birthday Honours list. His citation was, "for service to the specialty of orthodontics, and through a range of leadership roles within the dental profession". John was a finalist in the 2011 Western Australian Citizen of the Year Awards, Community Service category which "honours extraordinary service and dedication to the Western Australian community at a state wide level".

In 2014, John was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow by The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International," in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among the peoples of the world".

Dr Owen is extremely proud of his appointment as the Inaugural Patron of Kalamunda Senior High School where John was a student in 1967-1969.

Clinically, John has a special interest in younger patients with facial growth and development problems especially in those with disabilities and indigenous health issues.

In early 2009, John and his wife Jan, founded the Kimberley Dental Team which became an ATO approved not for profit organization in 2011. With the assistance of hundreds of volunteer dental personnel and the support of so many sponsors and supporters, the team has been able to visit the remote Kimberley region of WA over twenty five times to provide much needed urgent general dental care. Over $1.5 million dollars of free dental care has been provided by the Team.

John is an adventurer at heart. In his spare time he has trekked and climbed on many of the large mountains of the world, in India, Pakistan, Nepal, France, Tanzania and Tibet and has flown a helicopter to all corners of Australia and New Zealand with his wife Jan. The helicopter is an invaluable aid to get dental teams into the remote communities and maximize the team's productive time.