Lucy Sheerins BSc Oral Health Sciences Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh.

My position as lecturer is on a secondment basis which was recently extended from completion in September 2017 to September 2020. In light of this extension, I was granted the opportunity to  develop my skills as a post graduate student on the PgCAP course.

Prior to my secondment with the University of Edinburgh, my background is practising as a Dental Hygiene Therapist for NHS Lothian Health board. Whilst I thoroughly enjoy the challenges and work life diversity that lecturing brings, from time to time I miss the patient contact I had built over my three years in Lothian.

BSc Oral Health Sciences is a four year honours degree programme which on completion the candidate will obtain a qualification in Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy.  Dental hygienists-therapists are an integral part of the wider network of Dental Care Professionals.  Dental hygienist-therapists can carry out 70% of dental treatment from primary tooth extractions to adult restorations. Post qualification, employment rates are good with graduates accepting positions in practice or with health boards.

Currently, my teaching involves lectures to small cohorts of no more than eleven students, demonstrations and supervision in clinical skills setting and on patient clinics. My academic interest is in the diversity of students, especially the gender balance within our student intake, currently there is only one male student within BSc Oral Health Sciences. 

Through attending the course, I want achieve better techniques for delivering lectures whether that be through multimedia options or reviewing my delivery style. I am certain through attending the foundation days I will be inspired to improve my understanding of the role of a lecturer and identify other areas of improvement I may have not considered.

I thoroughly look forward to meeting everyone on PgCAP this coming Monday.