Dr Richard Pickworth MBE BDSc, a practicing dentist with 30 years experience in Papua New Guinea, initially held a training position as Senior Dental officer with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force. Later he held a position as an honorary lecturer in Clinical Dentistry at the University of Papua New Guinea for some 2 years. He established the Dental Clinic at the Ok Tedi mine in 1982 where he assisted in the recruitment and training of a dental therapist for that mine before commencing practice at the Lihir Mine. Here Richard assisted in the planning of an extensive preventative program for the villages involving a resident dental therapist and dental nurse, both nationals who have been trained in Port Moresby.
Mrs Sandra Pickworth, an Australian qualified teacher, taught in the International Education Agency for some 10 years, before taking on the role of Training Development officer in Meddent. Sandra is responsible for all course development and structure. She is also responsible for in house training of clerical staff, and coordinates with overseas suppliers to run short training courses utilising the skills of visiting application specialists.
Mr. Esau Haihe is a qualified Air Conditioning technician who also has an electrical licence. Esau was formally trained in Sydney in the installation and maintenance of Hospital Gas, Suction Systems and Dynavac suction pumps. He has completed the first and second stage of the Hospital Gas System at the Port Moresby Private Hospital. Esau, who is currently studying technical service of the Varian range of Analytical equipment with ongoing Australian based short course, has taken over the service role previously held by a visiting expatriate service technician. He has also completed the pipe installation at the two hyperbaric chambers currently in Port Moresby and been trained in • Microscope Service & Repair (Olympus, Melbourne) • Care of the IMX system and Beckman Coulter Hermatology equipment* • Mammography XRay installation and repair (Jacobs Medical, Australia) • Getinge Equipment training (Brisbane) • Central Suction and Medical Air Plant training (Atlas Copco, Australia) • Ulco Anaesthetic Equipment and • Rapine Morgue refrigeration.