Elaine Cook

Elaine qualified as a dentist from Leeds University and was commissioned into the Royal Army Dental Corps on a short service commission before taking a medium commission as a dental officer in the Royal Air Force.

She has extensive experience of primary dental care within the military, both in peacetime and on operations, and has served in various operational theatres including the first Gulf War conflict. She has also gained experience within the NHS, private, prison and community dental services as a dental surgeon whilst studying for her legal qualifications and so has a broad knowledge of many areas of dentistry.

Elaine joined Dental Protection in September 2014 initially working two days a week in the Leeds office whilst still working as a civilian dental practitioner for Defence Primary Healthcare. She joined MPS full-time as a dento-legal consultant in August 2015.

She also continues to work as a general dental practitioner in private practice and in her area of special interest (oral surgery) on a sessional basis. She has a keen interest in forensic odontology and participates in a dental forensic team on-call rota for the UK.

She has been the vice-president (legal medicine) of the Faculty of Forensic & Legal Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians of London for the past four years.

She is trustee of the National Military Working Dogs Memorial and has five rescue Spaniels which keep her extremely busy in her spare time. She is also an organiser for a walking/activity club at weekends.