Education

Free online guide launched for teachers to support students preparing for BMAT

A free online guide has been released by Cambridge Assessment to help teachers support students who need to take the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) to get a place to study Medicine or Dentistry in the UK.

The guide is designed to highlight further information and free support materials that are available for BMAT. Teachers using the guide can share the information with their students who need to take the test to study at certain UK universities or medical schools. The experts behind the guide say it comes at a time when teacher support is more important than ever as the teaching sector faces severe restrictions due to Covid-19.

The online guide has been developed by Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing, the same experts who develop BMAT. It includes information on where to find free online BMAT preparation materials, answers to frequently asked questions from students, information on the test format and guidance on BMAT test sessions.

Andy Chamberlain, Head of Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing said: “BMAT plays a highly significant role in ensuring students with the highest potential get selected for healthcare related courses and the test has become a key part of the recruitment toolkit for universities. For this reason it’s essential that teachers get the support they need to make sure students are confident on the test day. We’ve designed the guide so it’s really comprehensive and gives teachers the information they need to pass on to their students. It comes at a time when teacher support is more important than ever and by using the guide, teachers will be able to help their students take the next steps towards university.”

BMAT is used by universities around the world to select applicants for medical, dental and biomedical courses. It tests key skills such as critical thinking, problem solving and application of scientific knowledge that are crucial for success on an academically demanding, science-based degree.

BMAT is designed so that students can prepare for the test on their own, and Admissions Testing also provides comprehensive free resources so that students can do so. However, many teachers would like to help support their students and this guide provides a quick resource for teachers to share the right information about BMAT.

Chamberlain added: “We already provide lots of free resources to help students prepare for BMAT, but this new guide is designed to give teachers a helping hand in supporting their students. Our research has shown that costly preparation courses are unnecessary which is why the guide shows teachers where to find all of our free materials.”

Denplan Academy supports dental practices with online training and CPD

Denplan, part of Simplyhealth, has been adapting and changing to the needs of customers, colleagues, dentists and practices during this unprecedented time, through online training via the Denplan Academy. With dental practices around the country closing their doors overnight due to Covid-19, the Denplan Academy has adapted from face-to-face training to online sessions for dentists and practice staff.

From re-writing and re-formatting training materials, to re-branding PowerPoints for the most popular 15 courses, the Denplan Academy team is now confidently delivering sessions independently online, continuing to provide personalised learning for dental colleagues.

With online functionality checked and the team confident they could deliver this new way of learning, 20 online sessions have now been booked in and 180 practice team members have now attended one of the sessions. Popular courses include:

  • Caring for your patients with dementia: How can we assist patients, as well as people in your local community to live well with dementia.
  • Complaints handling: Explores methods and techniques to manage patient complaints and review procedures in line with GDC standards.
  • ECPD and reflective learning: Requirements of the GDC’s Enhanced Continuing Professional Development and how the team can approach the guidelines of Plan, Do, Reflect, Record.
  • Preparing for your CQC inspection: Examines the process of a CQC inspection and what elements are included in the five fundamental standards of care.

Jo Banks, Client Training Manager at Denplan added: “We have all had to adapt to these unfamiliar times and different ways of working. The Denplan Academy team has shown such amazing spirit whilst committing to delivering this new type of training. The team has adapted our course materials and approach, now offering live, personalised, online training – something no other provider in the marketplace is doing.

“It has been an excellent opportunity for us to retain and build relationships with dental practices at this time. This online training offers staff members a chance to re-engage with their teams and be productive at this difficult time. If dental staff have been furloughed, they are also encouraged to attend the training on a voluntary basis. Initial feedback from our member dentists has been excellent. We are excited to continue and develop our online training to meet the needs of our member dentists and practice staff.”

Denplan has also been working with Dental Update and Louis Mackenzie, Head Dental Officer at Denplan. With over 70,000 registrations to date, this series of clinical webinars provides practices and teams to continue to be supported and access CPD.

For more information about the Denplan Academy online training, please visit https://events.simplyhealth.co.uk/TMT

University of Kent to host Postgraduate Virtual Open Event

Those looking for professional development are invited to book a place at the University of Kent’s Virtual Postgraduate Open Event on Thursday 21 May from 16:00 – 19:00.

The online event will provide attendees with the chance to hear from specialist academics and attend live Q&A sessions to discover the universities part-time, work-based programme for all dental care professionals, including dental nurses, hygienists, therapists and dentists: MSc Applied Dental Professional Practice. Teaching may be structured around a series of long weekends (on average four weekends a year at the University of Kent Medway campus), Friday – Sunday, 9.00 – 17.00.

Find out more and book your place here: https://www.kent.ac.uk/professional-practice/programmes

Course details can be found at: https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/215/advanced-and-specialist-healthcare

DDU makes enhanced online learning resources free to all

The Dental Defence Union (DDU) has made its online learning modules free to all dental professionals to provide enhanced support during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The DDU’s suite of online learning resources covers areas such as dental complaints, ethics and law and professional use of social media. Each course allows clinicians to obtain between one and five hours of verifiable CPD. A dentist who previously completed a course commented that it was an: ‘Excellent summary stating all the facts and what to consider.’

In addition, members’ Covid-related queries such as what to do if a patient complains about a cancelled appointment and what to consider during remote consultations, are being addressed in videos and articles at the.ddu.com/coronavirus. 

The DDU’s partner organisation, employment law specialist Peninsula, has also recorded a webinar with advice on furloughing staff during the pandemic.

John Makin, head of the DDU said: “The pandemic has turned dental practice on its head and dental professionals have responded to the new challenges with tremendous courage and adaptability. To ensure clinicians are kept up to date with the latest dento-legal information and can continue to obtain required levels of CPD, we’ve made our online learning modules free for everyone. Previously courses were only accessible to DDU members. For our part, our team of dento-legal experts are analysing the latest information to ensure colleagues can access expert advice at their fingertips. We hope the resources will help dental professionals navigate the dento-legal challenges that lie ahead.”

Register at www.the.ddu.com/learn to complete the free courses.

50 dentists appointed to new FGDP(UK) Academy

The Faculty of General Dental Practice has announced the appointment of 50 dentists to its new FGDP(UK) Academy. The Academy has been established to recognise significant and ongoing contributions to the academic work of the Faculty at a national level in support of its core purposes.

Appointments are made as Member or Senior Member of the FGDP(UK) Academy in relation to the responsibility and commitment of specified roles, such as in the development of the Faculty’s guidance and standards, and the delivery and assessment of its exams and educational programmes. Membership is for a renewable three-year term and it is intended that the Academy will move across to the College of General Dentistry upon the transfer of the FGDP(UK).

A list of the Members of the Academy appointed to date is here.

Ian Mills, Dean of the Faculty, said: “I am delighted that the Board has seen fit to establish an Academy to recognise the outstanding work of so many of our colleagues in delivering postgraduate dental education and promoting the highest standards of care. There are many Members, Fellows and others who serve the profession and its patients through the Faculty, and I look forward to recognising these contributions with further appointments in the coming months.”

Dental students can now use OET when applying to Imperial College London

Dental students applying to study at Imperial College London can now prove their English language ability with OET, the world’s number one test of medical English. Imperial College London is consistently listed as one of the top 10 universities in the world, boasting  14 Nobel prize winners, including Sir Alexander Fleming, who discovered penicillin, and is recognised as a centre of excellence for the study of medicine. As part of the new recognition, OET can be also be used as part of the application process to study at Imperial.

OET has been specifically designed to accurately reflect candidates’ ability to communicate in an English-speaking healthcare workplace. Test material is underpinned by ongoing research to ensure OET remains relevant and accurate.

Mickey Bonin, Head of Strategy and Product for OET says: “We’ve designed OET to reflect real life tasks and relevant language skills that healthcare professionals are likely to face. We’re delighted Imperial have agreed to recognise OET as they work in partnership with a wide range of NHS trusts, hospitals and clinics. OET will help to ensure that anyone applying to study on medical courses will have the communication skills they need to cope with their studies and the workplace after graduation. English remains a crucial skill for medical students who want to succeed and OET will be a huge boost to the next generation of healthcare workers joining the global healthcare community.”

OET has been developed specifically for 12 healthcare professions: Dentistry, Dietetics, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Radiography, Speech Pathology and Veterinary Science. It is provided by provided by Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment, a venture between Cambridge Assessment English and Box Hill Institute.

University introduces new programme with renowned dental implant team

The University of Salford has partnered with a leading dental implant team to introduce a new postgraduate programme.

The University is partnering with the ICE Postgraduate Dental Institute and Hospital to introduce a new PG Cert in Non-Surgical Facial Aesthetics.

The programme is led by dental and clinical practitioner Tracey Bell who runs Tracey Bell Dental and Aesthetic Medical Clinic and is aimed at doctors, nurses, and dentists who are looking to obtain a qualification at Level 7 in Botulinum toxin and Dermal Fillers.

The course is structured as a PGCert which focuses on developing students’ clinical skills and fosters an approach to lifelong learning. Students have access to mentors provided by ICE, to support their education and training whilst building an ePortfolio of clinical cases.

Tracey Bell said: “I am delighted that the University of Salford have recognised the need for a university programme and, I believe, by providing an overview of those facial cosmetic procedures, it will lead the way in an educational structure that will become a necessary framework for practitioners like myself to achieve.”

The first students will enroll onto the course in September 2019 and will have access to all necessary products, as well as patients and mentorship at ICE’s state of the art purpose-built site, based in Salford Quays close to the University’s MediaCityUK campus.
The course will enable students to enhance their knowledge in Botulinum toxin, Fillers and Facial Aesthetics whilst also being able to demonstrate their level of practical and clinical understanding of these treatments which will long term be a requisite for registration. Students will also be able to find out about evidence-based treatment planning, patient communication, legal and ethical considerations, and related human factor concepts.

To apply please visit the website to view the course entry requirements and gain further information on the course https://beta.salford.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/non-surgical-facial-aesthetics. Once you have your supporting information prepared you can apply through the online application form, this should take 20 minutes to complete.

If you have any queries with your application please contact the programme lead at the University of Salford, Sam Curtin: S.L.Bird3@salford.ac.uk.

Plymouth University academic is first dental care professional to win ADEE award

An academic from the University of Plymouth has become the first dental care professional to win a prize at the Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE) awards.

Clare McIlwaine, programme lead for BSc Dental Therapy and Hygiene (DTH), won the Oral B Inter-professional Educator award, becoming the first dental care professional – rather than dentist – to win in any ADEE category.

The IPE award’s sole recipient, Clare was selected following entries from dental schools across the continent. She collected her award at the ADEE ceremony in Berlin, Germany last night.

Her work has focused on making Inter-Professional Education (IPE) the core of the BSc programme; facilitating shared learning with the University’s BDS Dental Surgery students.

The DTH course is three years long compared with dental surgery’s five, but year one sees all students share teaching, learning and assessments. Where scope of practice overlaps, the shared teaching continues into year two, along with clinical working in year three.

Clare McIlwaine; Dr Ronald Gorter, ADEE Executive panel member; Prof Stephanie Tubert-Jeannin, ADEE President; Anja Borrer, P&G

Clare explains that this innovative way of working at the University of Plymouth helps to prepare students for collaborative settings in their future career.

She said: “In order to provide effective, patient centred, shared care, the dental team need to work together and understand each other’s roles in the provision of patient care. Although a dental therapists’ and dentists’ roles differ, we are all ultimately striving for the same thing, so it’s great that we’ve been able to implement this innovative way of working into the very core of the curriculum at Plymouth.

“I’m so pleased to have been recognised by the ADEE for my role in designing and implementing this curriculum, and look forward to welcoming more dental professionals of the future to our programmes.”

Clare has also led trips to New York University, Tufts and Harvard School of Dental Medicine to further develop Inter-Professional Education opportunities.

Professor Christopher Tredwin, Head of Peninsula Dental School at the University of Plymouth, said: “Clare’s work has been outstanding – the shared curriculum promotes inter-professional skills in environments akin to real-life practice, and has been extremely well received by students.

“The programmes’ integration has placed Peninsula Dental School at the forefront of dental education, and her award is thoroughly deserved.”