Dental Academy
Ms Sara Holmes
Director/Head of School
Dental Academy
William Beatty Building
Hampshire Terrace
Portsmouth PO1 2QG
Profile
Sara is a senior manager dedicated to the advancement of inter-professional dental education and NHS dental service provision in the primary care and academic setting. She is Director/Head of School of the University of Portsmouth Dental Academy. Sara joined the University as a Lecturer in 1998. Sara, having originally trained as a Dental Nurse, had the sense that Dental Care Professional education (e.g. dental hygienist, dental therapist, dental nurse) was historically a ‘Cinderella’ professional speciality in academic dentistry. At that time the University did not have a history in dental education but were keen to develop provision.
Since her appointment Sara, with the tremendous engagement and support of the Dental Academy team, has progressively developed a strong vision for dental team-based learning and working. She passionately believes that Dentist and Dental Care Professional students must have the opportunity of training together in the reality of the primary care dental setting if they are going to be effective members of healthcare teams of the future.
Sara led the development of the Dental Academy, which opened in September 2010, and the former School for Dental Care Professionals. The Dental Academy provides an innovative model of team-based undergraduate training for Dental Care Professional students of the University of Portsmouth and eighty final year Dental students from King’s College London Dental Institute (KCLDI). The innovative model of education developed has been positively praised. The following provides examples of student and staff feedback:
"Working in a team with the King’s Dental Students on a day-to-day basis has really helped us develop our clinical and communication skills. We understand more about each other’s roles and the important part we ALL play in providing high quality care. The vast majority of Dentists have never worked alongside a Dental Therapist and bringing our training together will really help to influence future professional expectations and attitudes."
Final Year Dental Hygiene/Therapy Student, University of Portsmouth
"Portsmouth was a great experience; it really taught me to appreciate the benefits of team work. Before Portsmouth I hadn’t had the chance to work alongside DCPs and I didn’t know how much they could contribute to effective and efficient patient care. My time at Portsmouth has really prepared me for working in practice. My confidence in my clinical work has significantly increased and I’m now really looking forward to working with DCPs when I qualify."
Final Year Dental Student, KCLDI
"I wish I had been afforded the benefit of training alongside other members of the team when I trained. I’m not sure if the students will fully understand the value of this opportunity until they have been in practice for a while."
Dental Academy Staff Member
Sara strongly believes that dental graduates of the future must have a sound knowledge and practical understanding of team-based working and that it is the responsibility of dental educators to meet this challenge. Sara was awarded the MBE for ‘Services to Dental Education’ in 2006.
The Dental Academy provides dental services to local communities (please see our Patient Care pages for further information) and is registered with the Care Quality Commission.