AustLit

Studying at the University of Sydney, Doreen Rouse was one of the first twenty women in New South Wales to graduate with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery. Working as a paediatric dentist from 1938 to 1983, Rouse was a founding member of the Dental Alumni Society of the University of Sydney (1943) and a Fellow at the International College of Dentists (1975). Recognised in 'the field of paediatric dental care as a practitioner, educator and historian', she was awarded an OAM in 2005 for her service to dentistry.

Recounting 'anecdotes' and 'memories' from university life and her 'early years' of dentistry, Rouse was inspired to write her first novel, Looking Down in the Mouth, which was published under the pseudonym of Agnes Ross Murray in 1974. After producing this work, Rouse has written three subsequent novels which have been published under her married name.

(Source: The Weekly Times Online; Looking Down in the Mouth, 1974)