Dental Academy

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) at the Dental Academy

Sharing knowledge, inspiring minds

The University of Portsmouth Dental Academy has long been the home of the dental team, at undergraduate level. However, we are aware we haven’t been doing as much as we should to support the wider dental community in addressing their educational requirements. Therefore, we have great pleasure in announcing the launch of our CPD and post-qualification programmes for the whole dental team and warmly invite you to participate.

More than ever, the dental professions are in the midst of rapid change and face new challenges. The demands of regulation, risks of litigation and the need to meet new governance frameworks, all need to be addressed. The recession increases financial pressures, while the NHS Pilots also herald another ‘new’ contract. The Office of Fair Trade’s report, if accepted, will mean NHS contracts may become ‘time limited’, the public could be given direct access to Dental Care Professionals (DCPs), practices will be required to display more information and comprehensive price lists, patients should be able to compare quality of dentists and DCPs, complaints processes should be simpler and work should be guaranteed for longer. In short, this is not a time for those with a nervous disposition, or the faint hearted.

However, as always, change brings opportunities. In responding to personal and professional challenge, it is important to develop an effective strategy to cope with the pressure of change. The key to overcoming change, I suggest, is an opportunity for knowledge exchange. With knowledge comes insight and understanding, which in turn unlocks solutions to the challenges. Knowledge will empower the team, not only to meet and conquer the tasks ahead, but to excel.

Where might you meet to exchange knowledge? Well, here at the Academy, of course! Come and meet your peers and exchange ideas with them. Listen to the experts and discuss problems with them. Dabble in ‘hands on’ and improve your skills. Just like the London taxi driver, the ‘Knowledge’ will safeguard your license too.

Therefore, I urge you to engage with us regularly, to develop your knowledge and skills. Also, to make learning more relevant to you, please give us feedback and ideas to meet your future needs.

Please read on as there are some fantastic courses for you to enjoy at the Dental Academy.

I look forward to meeting you soon.

John Weld
Clinical Director