Following vocational training in general practice 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 and was a partner in local general practices. He was appointed to the Chair of General Practice in Trinity College in 1993 and has lectured at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels and 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. He is a practising GP in West Tallaght with a GMS list and practice from a health centre that was built on foot of research by both himself and his colleagues.