STUDENT CLINICIAN PROGRAMME

 

Student Clinician Programme ...to ignite the imagination of students, to promote research in Dentistry

 

 

Each year a signal event takes place with the affirmed intention to stimulate a commitment to research amongst current dental students,,, and that event is mounted in numerous countries across the globe. Such is the commitment of Dentsply to the future of Dental Research. In South Africa the Association joins forces with the company in organising the programme. Students from all the teaching Hospitals in South Africa are encouraged to compete and the invitation is extended beyond our borders to countries to the North. On Wednesday 20th August seven student research projects were presented to the judges, who were drawn from amongst South African academe. The competition is designed to focus on clinical research and may be in any clinical dental discipline.

The topics this year spread across five dental disciplines , and six Dental Hospitals, one being Nairobi Dental School.

The judges had a challenging debate and finally determined that Mr Cornh de Witt, University of Pretoria, had presented the best project. His award will enable his attendance at the 2015 Congress of The International Association for Dental Research where he will compete with winners from many other countries for the main International award.

The company hosted a grand dinner at the Hyatt Hotel in Rosebank, Johannesburg. Ms Sharon Douglas, the Director of Human Resources in the London office of Messrs DentSply, presented the key-note address and delivered the winning certificates to Corne and to Professor Leanne Sykes, supervisor of the project.

The success of the event was ensured by the dedicated attention to detail of Ms Sharon Fisher of DentSply SA and of Ms Noma Nkiwane of the Dental Association of South Africa.

Everyone is a winner in this innovative programme, participants, supervisors, judges, DentSply, the Association.. and those privileged to attend the Gala Dinner, where we were royally entertained by The Blue Velvet ensemble.

Best wishes to Mr Corne de Witt as he travels to and competes in the International event.