Author: Lauri-Anne Madge

A conversation with Professor Chris Vernazza, Professor of Oral Health Services, a Consultant Paediatric Dentist, Head of School at Newcastle School of Dental Sciences. This podcast explores Chris’ own career in dental academia and his research background in health economics. In addition, Chris shares his knowledge of the current dental clinical academic pathways for both dentists and dental care professionals, especially the National Institute of Health & Care Research Integrated Academic Training (NIHR IAT) & NIHR Integrated Clinical and Practitioner Academic Programme (NIHR ICA) schemes.   

A conversation with Sarah Farmer, a General Dental Practitioner and National Institute of Health & Care Research Academic Clinical Fellow. Sarah is the first primary care dental practitioner to be awarded one of these fellowships through Newcastle University & NIHR. The title of her research is: ‘Why aren’t we doing better? Are dentists and dental students prepared to support patients with lived experience of Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse’. During the podcast Sarah talks about her own experience of treating patients with dental trauma who she suspects have been victims of intimate partner violence, and how the incidence of this increased during the pandemic. She describes her research and findings to date; as well as what it is like to win gold medals for powerlifting! 

A conversation with Professor Janice Ellis, Professor of Dental Education & Consultant in Restorative Dentistry, at Newcastle School of Dental Sciences. Janice started her academic career with an interest in periodontal disease and spent a fascinating PhD looking at drug induced gingival overgrowth, developing novel lab techniques, and conducting large scale epidemiology studies. Following her PhD she moved her attention towards implant supported over-dentures, which led her to collaborate with McGill University in Canada; but her career took another turn, when she rediscovered a passion for education research. During the podcast Janice describes the twists and turns of her academic career, and shares her love of the Northeast of England and exercising outdoors. 

A conversation with Helen Mather, a dentist, who is working as a clinical fellow, in Newcastle SDS. Helen is teaching and conducting a PhD in dental education over 6 years. The research is specifically looking to define the attributes required of newly qualified dentists, a subject which the GDC is very interested in. Helen talks about the twists and turns of her career, her teaching, all whilst studying for a part-time PhD.