Passionate advocate for dental education
EMERITUS Professor Peter Innes, who was the dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Otago for 13 years, was known for his commitment to dental education.
He died on December 19, 2021 in Dunedin at the age of 80.
Born in Auckland, Prof Innes was educated at Royal Oak Primary School, Hutt Valley High School, and Kelston High School. Highlights of his school days were his high standard of academic work and playing first XV rugby for Kelston.
He graduated from the University of Otago with a bachelor of dental surgery degree in 1963.
After a period in private practice in Christchurch, Prof Innes returned to Dunedin.
In 1965 he joined the Faculty of Dentistry to teach and study, completing his Master of Dental Surgery in 1967. Prof Innes spent time in Canada in the Department of Anatomy at the University of Saskatchewan (196877), and Australia, in the Department of Anatomy and
Histology at the University of Adelaide (197782).
In 1982, he returned to Saskatoon as the head of the Department of Oral Biology at the University of Saskatchewan, and subsequently became the dean of the College of Dentistry (198692).
In 1992, he returned to
Dunedin as the dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Otago, a position he held until his retirement in 2005.
Prof Innes’ tenacity and passion for dental education is illustrated by the High Court action brought against the Government in 2001.
After years of frustrating battles over dental funding, the University of Otago and dental students sought compensation from the Crown for cuts to dental school education funding imposed in 1994.
The High Court judgement noted that the decision by the then education minister to cut funds was erroneous and irrational.
A settlement was reached compensating both the university for funding shortfalls, and the students for the increased fees they had paid, with interest.
It took time, but the efforts, energy, and determination of those involved both inside and outside the university were eventually able to right this wrong.
During his tenure as dean at the University of Otago, Prof Innes also spearheaded changes in the education of allied oral health professionals.
As a result, university programmes in dental therapy, dental hygiene, clinical dental technology and dental technology were upgraded and implemented.
In an effort to involve the faculty in all aspects of dentistry, Prof Innes worked to build relationships between the dental school, the dental profession, and the New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA).
His success is reflected in the award of the Fellowship of the NZDA in 2004.
He was also a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, a Fellow of the International College of Dentists, and a Fellow in Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
A staunch believer in the importance of dental research, he was awarded a Doctor of Dental Science by the University of Otago (1979) for his published research.
He also served as chair of the NZDA’s Dental Research Foundation.
The culmination of a distinguished career came in 2005, when Prof Innes was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in recognition of his services to dentistry.
When not working, Prof Innes enjoyed camping, fishing, sailing and reading.
The only thing he loved more than a good book was his family. He is survived by his wife Jackie, three children, and three grandchildren. — Contributed