Community Dental Services CIC’s Clinical Director visits Malaysia to improve dentistry examination standards
NewsPosted by: Dental Design 10th September 2024
Professor Adrian Thorp, Clinical Director for Community Dental Services CIC (CDS) has visited the Faculty of Dentistry at ‘Universiti Malaya’ in Kuala Lumpur to improve links and standards of graduates taking the Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (MFDS) examination. Adrian visited on behalf of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and as part of his role as Deputy Chair of the examination.
Granted a visiting Professorship at the University of Kuala Lumpa through his work on the Member of the Faculty of Dental Surgery examinations and training, Adrian delivered two days of intensive lectures; where he taught new examiners how to improve the quality of their examining skills and a day of giving guidance to new candidates who want to take the exam. His lecture styles included didactic teaching, interactive workshops and role play of examination questions.
With a keen interest in learning and encouraging professional development for the whole dental team, Adrian was able to compare the UK and Malaysian, undergraduate and speciality training pathways; showing that training in the UK is very similar in both paediatric and special care dentistry. It was noted that the role of dental care professionals in Malayasia has not yet advanced to the degree of that in the UK, but the understanding is that there is work being currently undertaken on a force plan to develop and promote these in the future. It is clear, that in the UK, the benefits of using DCP’s develops prudent and patient centred healthcare.
Adrian said: “Working as Clinical Director for CDS aligns with my own priorities and values with a clear commitment to learning and professional development. I’ve spent much of my career improving dental education for all members of the team regardless of role and at any stage in their career so they can achieve their highest level within any organisation. I continue this ethos within CDS, where we proudly invest in new ways of working so our patient cohort receive gold standard care. The only real difference between working in Malaysia and the UK is the heat and humidity.”
Qualifying with the MFDS examination shows increased applied clinical knowledge and enables successful candidates to apply for speciality training.
