Professor Emeritus Trinity College Dublin, Tom O’Dowd was appointed Professor of General Practice in 1993 and continues as a practising GP in West Tallaght, Dublin. After general practice vocational training in Ireland, Tom joined the University of Wales College of Medicine (1980 – 86) as a lecturer and subsequently the University of Nottingham (1986 – 1993 as a senior lecturer. He has been involved in curriculum change and design and postgraduate research supervision. He was Chairman of the Education Committee of the Medical Council that led to the current professionalisation of medical education in Ireland.