In a first for Ireland, the Faculty of Dentistry is partnering with the three dental schools to host a post-primary careers day

In the context of the negative response to the Irish Government’s new oral health policy, Smile agus Sláinte, promoting a career in dentistry might seem like a hard sell. But the Faculty of Dentistry, of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, FoDRCSI is determined to paint a bright picture for the profession’s next generation.

In a first for Ireland, the Faculty is partnering with the island’s three dental schools of Queens University Belfast, Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork to host a post-primary careers day at St Stephen’s Green, Dublin, on 18 January.

The FoDRCSI is responsible for the accreditation of postgraduate dentists through examination, as well as providing postgraduate education to more than 2,000 members worldwide.

While the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) does not have a dental school, the FoDRCSI recognises its responsibility for public engagement to attract and retain a new generation of dentists to manage the future needs of our patients in Ireland and beyond.

Consequently, the FoDRCSI sees this unique event as an extremely important opportunity to raise the awareness of dentistry both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and is pitching it at transition year students, along with those in 5th and 6th year.

Dr John Marley, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, said the event’s roots lay in a strategy meeting held when he took up the deanship, part of which recognised the real need to increase public engagement.”

“Although we are a postgraduate organisation, it is these young people who will become the next generation of dentists and it makes sense to be involved at an early stage in the recruitment process and engage with enthusiastic young individuals.

“We want to present a positive view of the profession to this cohort of bright young people, bringing the Faculty and the dental schools together under one roof.”

Those students who travel to the FoDRCSI on the day can expect fantastic presentations by senior academic staff from each dental school, describing what’s on offer if they study dentistry in Ireland.

In addition, there will be speakers from different sectors of dentistry along with undergraduate students and graduates to provide their experience of dentistry.

Following formal presentations, delegates will be able to meet the admissions teams from each dental school, along with student representatives.

There will also be interactive stations which will give students the opportunity to try their hand at some dentistry techniques and ask questions of dentists who practise in various fields.

For those who cannot make it on the day, the organisers aim to stream the event on Facebook.

“Although this will not afford the opportunity to meet and question the dental teams [it] will, I hope, give a great flavour of what a career in dentistry is like,” said Dr Marley.

“It would be great if our dental colleagues could promote this event within their practices.”

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Full details including registration information has been sent to all schools on the island of Ireland. For those who are interested, further details can be obtained by contacting the Faculty of Dentistry office: facdentistry@rcsi.ie

Tags: careers, careers day, dental schools, Faculty of Dentistry, ireland, out-reach, Partnership, post-primary, Schools