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Head of School
Welcome to the July 2019 edition of the School of Dentistry and Oral Health newsletter.
Regulation of education is overseen by a number of organisations the most immediately recognisable one for dental education is the Australian Dental Council (ADC). The ADC is currently reviewing their accreditation standards and surveying stakeholders and I encourage staff to provide feedback to this important area. During July we were visited by ADC to evaluate our new BDentHyg and DClinDent (Endodontics) programs and we anticipated an accreditation in time to allow commencement of these programs in 2020.
In response to the 2017 School Review that recommended a curriculum refresh of the dentistry program the PSO, DHOS (L&T), Program Director and Program Support Team have worked hard to finalise the structure and work on the new course outlines and learning outcomes for a 2020 start. The refresh will enhance student learning by aligning complimentary disciplines and allow for integrated and comprehensive assessment of discipline knowledge. The school is also committed to progressing our didactic education to an active and blended learning approach to further enhance students experience and outcomes and the new curriculum structure will provide the opportunity to coordinate a school-wide strategy.
Research activity in the school continues to grow and broaden the research base. Congratulations to Professor Marco Peres for his publications in the Lancet Series on Oral Health. The publication will be officially launched at a function in London, UK, highlighting the importance of the work. Congratulations also to Emeritus Professor Newell Johnson for his IADR Global Oral Health Research Award.
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Visit to South Korea
Possibilities on the horizon for exchanges in learning and teaching.
During May, Professor Love, Associate Professor Evans and Mr
An, from the School of Dentistry and Oral Health, Griffith University travelled
to South Korea to discuss opportunities for exchanges in learning and
teaching.
The delegation met with the President of Masan University, the Dean
of Education and the Program Directors across two dental programs. They toured the clinics, laboratories and CAD
CAM facilities, along with the student accommodation precinct. The group is actively working towards establishing an MOU with Masan University.
To continue this process, Masan University delegates will
visit Griffith University in Trimester 2. In addition, two Masan University dental
technology students will complete a 4-week exchange program with the 3rd year
dental technology program. While in Seoul, the group attended the 41st Asia
Pacific Dental Congress and Trade Show to view the latest developments in
dental supplies and equipment.
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DOH Learning & Teaching Hub
Online platform released to provide a collaborative space for DOH Dental Educators.
This July sees the launch of the Griffith DOH Learning & Teaching Hub. The online hub provides a collaborative space for DOH Dental Educators to share and discuss Learning & Teaching ideas, strategies and resources. This online platform will work in tandem with face-to-face workshops planned for the second half of 2019. Together these forums will provide collaborative learning around Assessment, Course Learning Outcomes, Active Learning strategies, Evaluation strategies, and other Learning & Teaching topics.
This initiative is being facilitated by Gail Rehbein as DOH Griffith Health Teaching Fellow and Associate Professor Jane Evans as Deputy Head of School (Learning & Teaching). It builds on the ‘2020 Course Profile Writing Workshop’ delivered by Associate Professor Jane Evans in early June, during which participants found discussions around L&T topics beneficial and expressed interest in opportunities to continue these conversations.
The DOH L&T Hub will be situated within the Microsoft Teams app. Within this site, academics will be able to read/discuss ideas, share journal articles and upload content about useful L&T strategies. Professional collaboration around Learning & Teaching is particularly valuable as DOH moves through the Dental Curriculum refresh and towards a more blended approach to learning.
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Griffith Health Teaching Fellows
Plans to improve blended learning and student engagement.
Over the past three months, Griffith Health Teaching Fellows have been working within their respective schools to identify and support the use of active learning strategies. This work is helping academics to deliver a more blended approach to learning where students engage with learning online before coming to classes and then, while in class, students engage in discussions, interactive learning and collaborative activities. For health professionals-in-training, blended learning cultivates the higher-order skills needed in practice such as critical thinking and problem-solving.
As well as meeting with academic staff to discuss current teaching strategies and ideas for change, the Health Group Teaching Fellows are developing a strong cross-discipline collaboration. This is happening through regular meetings convened by Griffith Health Curriculum Consultant Georgina Sanger and through frequent interaction on the Teaching Fellow Microsoft Teams site, where ideas, strategies and resources are shared and discussed.
This active collaboration involves DOH Teaching Fellow, Gail Rehbein, in discussions with Teaching Fellows from Pharmacy, Medical Sciences, Psychology, Nursing and Midwifery, Physiotherapy, Human Services, Medicine, and Para-Medicine.With the curriculum refresh underway for the Dentistry Program, DOH academics have the opportunity to draw on this valuable collaboration when working with DOH Teaching Fellow, Gail Rehbein.
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Clinics for Kids
More than a thousand children examined and provided with dental care.
Clinics for Kids was established as a response to the critical need for quality health care for children living in difficult-to-access and under-served communities globally. During the planning stage CFK director Ryan Kungl was cautioned that Africa might be too difficult a location for this initiative and that a more accessible location should be considered. This advice further reinforced Ryan’s conviction that all children should have the right to adequate health care.
Ryan was motivated by the challenge of achieving his first outreach program without the assistance of an established organization. The Clinics for Kids inaugural project became a reality for the last two weeks of June, through a partnership with a number of schools in rural areas of Uganda. This project involved the examination of more than a thousand children, hundreds of dental cleanings and emergency care as well as educational activities targeting prevention such as oral health assemblies and brushing workshops.
The Clinics for Kids Uganda team included Ryan Kungl, 3rd year student of Griffith Bachelor of Oral Health in Dental Science, Dr. Ajitha Sugnanam, Dentist and student of Griffith Masters of Clinical Dentistry in Oral Surgery and Dr Linh Quach, Dentist and owner of Bonfire Dental. This Clinics for Kids project was also made possible as a result of connections made through University Council events, a scholarship from Griffith Outbound and Honours College as well as donations received from Colgate and local dental practices including Praxis Dental, Oasis Dental, Totally Smiles and Queen Street Dental.
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Dental Assistant Maddy Roberts becomes first AFLW priority signing!
At 26 Roberts is a crafty small forward with great goal sense, playing local football for the Coolangatta Bluebirds. She was also part of the 2018 Winter Series and was a member of the SUNS’ AFLW Summer Academy program.
The Gold Coast local has representative experience, playing for the Queensland U23 side in previous years and has also been a part of the Brisbane Lions train-on squad. Well done Maddy!
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IADR Vancouver 2019
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The International Association for Dental Research (IADR) is the peak research body in craniofacial, oral and dental research, headquartered in Alexandria, Va. USA, is a nonprofit organization with over 11,000 members worldwide. Its mission is : (1) to advance research and increase knowledge for the improvement of oral health worldwide; (2) to support and represent the oral health research community; and (3) to facilitate the communication and application of research findings. This year the 97th General Session & Exhibition of the IADR, held in conjunction with the 48th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) and the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research (CADR) was held in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Several of DOH staff members, HDR candidates and students attended the congress who presented symposiums, oral and poster presentations. Emeritus Professor Newell was awarded the prestigious 'Global Oral Health Research Award' at the Opening Ceremony. DOH Deputy Head of School (Research) Raj Nair started his tenure as the IADR President of the Oral Medicine and Pathology Group and attended the IADR Council Meeting.
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General News & Updates
Congratulations to Professor Newell Johnson who was announced as the 2019 recipient of the Global Oral Health Research Award. Professor Johnson was recognised at the Opening Ceremonies of the 97th General Session & Exhibition of the IADR, held in conjunction with the 48th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) and the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research (CADR). The IADR/AADR/CADR General Session & Exhibition is held at the Vancouver Convention Centre West Building in Vancouver, BC, Canada from June 19-22, 2019.
Congratulations to Clinical Manager Natalie Frost who has been awarded a scholarship to attend the High Education Advanced Leadership Program.
Congratulations to 3rd year Dentistry student Victoria Trihn who has been accepted to the Elective Student Program with the Faculty of Dentistry at The University of Hong Kong.
Professor Nigel Robb will be singing with the Brisbane Chorale in a performance of Verdi's Requiem at QPAC, Sunday 28th July 4pm. Tickets available through QPAC.
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A/Prof Marcelo da Silva Figueredo participated in the iSwim Legends relays at the World Championship Trials in Brisbane this month. This event allows those in the Masters community opportunity to demonstrate the depths of their talent and speed in the water. Well done Marcelo!
DOH staff took part in First Aid and CPR training with the exceptional team from PM Safety Training. The course provided practical skills and theoretical knowledge to mange injuries, and deal with breathing and cardiac emergencies.
To our left we have Jesse and Sonya who are mastering how to splint a broken bone. The DOH staff said they all learnt many useful tips, especially what can be used when you don't have a first aid kit with you!
Birthday Celebrations for the staff in the office. Special mention to Professor Quaranta and his wife who welcomed their baby boy Leonardo.
Thank you to everyone who came and celebrated our Birthdays for June.
Love is in the air!
Congratulations to Dr Matthew Yakimoff who got married in Queenstown to his beautiful wife, Danielle!
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