UPCD Embarks on a Four-day Immersion Activity at the Special Care Dentistry Clinic of Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

UPCD Embarks on a Four-day Immersion Activity at the Special Care Dentistry Clinic of Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 

As part of the UPCD Faculty Development Program, Dr. Joy Memorando Wilson and Dr. Francesca Celina Fajardo went on a four-day immersion and benchmarking activity in Special Care Needs Dentistry at the Faculty of Dentistry of University of Malaya (UM) on June 18-21, 2024. 

This initiative was done as UPCD strives to work towards improving and further developing a similar undergraduate course, Special Needs Dentistry, being offered in the new curriculum of UP Manila’s Doctor of Dental Medicine program. 

The UPCD delegates were warmly welcomed by Dean Zamri Radzi of Faculty of Dentistry UM, together with the Special Needs Program Director, Dr. Maryani Rohani, and faculty members, Dr. Jessica Francis and Dr. Aisha Fisal.  

The four-day trip was packed with activities, intentionally organized to allow the delegates to get to know the course and the community very well. This was officially kicked off with an introductory lecture on Special Care Dentistry and Postgraduate courses, held at the SCD Clinic in the Dental Specialist and Research Tower of UM. 

This was followed by a walking tour of the postgraduate clinics of Special Care Dentistry, Pedodontics and Orthodontics, all located on the same floor. Best practices, and effective systems in place were further discussed in detail in this session, as each part of the clinics was being showcased.

The delegates were also toured around the other buildings of Dentistry and their hospital, Universiti Malaya Medical Centre.

The following day, the delegates were brought to the undergrad clinics to discuss the Special Care Dentistry course design for the undergraduates.

The delegates also witnessed the launch of the new book ‘A Guide to Assessment in Dental Education’, in which Dr. Mryani Rohani, Special Needs Program Director, was a contributor of.

Afterwards, the delegates joined the Dentistry Faculty celebration of Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) for lunch where the delegates were introduced to previous deans of UM Dentistry, as well as esteemed lecturers from other colleges of their university.

During the last day, the delegates joined two (2) of the postgraduate students of Special Care Dentistry in providing domiciliary care for some patients in a facility, where they were able to observe the preparation and treatment proper of the postgrads when rendering dental services out of campus.

Apart from the rigorous benchmarking and observing, the delegates were also able to see some of the most beautiful and scenic spots of Kuala Lumpur, all thanks to the faculty and students of UM Dentistry who were extremely hospitable, accommodating and generous with their time. 

Dr. Joy M. Wilson

Dr. Francesca Celina Fajardo