CQUni academic wins prized course at Harvard School of Dental Medicine
Published on 29 April, 2013
CQUniversity's Associate Professor Leonie Short was the recipient of a $5000 prize from Colgate Oral Care, enabling her to attend the Senior Dental Leaders Program at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine in Boston during March.
This strategic leadership program is an initiative of the Global Child Dental Fund through King's College London and Harvard School of Dental Medicine. It aims to improve child oral health by gaining insight into the global context for oral health, by examining workforce challenges of the future, by gaining insights into the theory and practice of strategic leadership, and by providing time for self-reflection on leadership capabilities.
Assoc Prof Short attended this training program and networked with 22 other dental leaders from many countries, including Fiji, Zambia, China, Cambodia, the USA and Germany.
LINK for more on the Bachelor of Oral Health
"It was definitely the best course that I have ever attended - I learnt a great deal about strategic leadership including insights into my own leadership skills and style," Assoc Prof Short said.
Three of the workshops/presentations during the five-day course concentrated on the crucial role of oral health therapists as key members of the dental workforce.
Participants of the SDL-7 program at a dinner at the Downtown Club
"I came home thinking that what we are doing at CQUniversity with our new Bachelor of Oral Health is at the cutting edge of contemporary practice. In fact, Australia is leading the world in oral health therapy education," Assoc Prof Short said.
Since attending the Harvard course in March, Assoc Prof Short has been asked to participate in the Smiles and Hopes Pacific Islands project through the Global Child Dental Taskforce in 2013.
This project aims to improve the oral health of vulnerable children in the Pacific Region, with a focus on the Solomon Islands and Fiji.
"It would be wonderful if our oral health students could also be involved in this project in the future," Assoc Prof Short said.