Faculty of Dentistry Appoints 9 Expert Heads of Discipline

UP Faculty of Dentistry is very fortunate to have many highly qualified specialists on its staff, and this week appointed 9 Heads of Disciplines to lead the education of our students in the various specialty areas. Certificates to recognize their appointments were presented by Prof Ian Findlay, President of UP, at a special ceremony last week.

The Heads of Discipline include:

1. Dr Chum Chenda DDS, MSc (Cambodia) – Endodontics
2. Dr Soy Rasy DDS, MSc (Thailand) – Restorative Dentistry
3. Dr Anand Marya – BDS, MScD (Philippines) – Orthodontics
4. Dr Sam Sovatdy DDS, MSc (Thailand) – Oral Surgery
5. Dr Tak Ranuch DDS, MSc (Thailand) – Periodontics
6. Dr Yos Chantho DDS, MSc (Thailand) – Pediatric Dentistry
7. Dr Soeurn Visal DDS, MSc (Thailand) – Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics
8. Dr Chea Chanbora DDS, PhD (Japan) – Oral pathology
9. Dr Po Malin DDS (Cambodia) – General Dentistry

UP Faculty of Dentistry is very proud of its top quality staff. UP’s incredibly talented and qualified group of lecturers and clinical tutors, almost all with postgraduate degrees (mostly from overseas), and together with the leadership provided by our own full time academic staff we can be confident that UP will continue to offer the very best high quality education for our dental students.

UP produces high impact publications in international medical journals

All over the world, Medical Schools are judged on the value of their scientific publications – measured by “impact factor” reflecting the importance of their publications worldwide. An impact factor of 10 or greater is considered an excellent score, while 3 is considered good.

UP is extremely proud to note that the mean impact factor of the 10 publications from UP Faculty of Medicine in the last 18 months is 9.53 – including one in Lancet, Number 2 in the World! An excellent result for any country, and especially for Cambodia. This demonstrates the high quality of international expertise in UP’s Faculty of Medicine.

UP nurses excel in Internal Exit Exam – well done

UP students achieved passing rates of 96% in Bachelor nursing, 82% in associate nursing and 77% in bachelor nursing bridging in recent IEE. This was despite COVID and these excellent results are a reflection of student dedication and the strong support provided from UP. Internal Exit Exam (IEE) is evaluation of the nursing program where students have to pass 7 moving practical OSCE stations to sit for national board exam of ministry of health in Cambodia.

“I was so concerned about my student’s performing in OSCE because all the procedures needed more time to practice despite the University campus closed due to Covid 19 prevention protocol from MOH” said by Mr. Borey, clinical skill lecturer. “However, the students showed that they have qualities to pass the IEE due to their investment in studying via online or watching video prepared by the department”.

“It was a great success for me as a student”, said by Mania, BSN student who has just passed the IEE. “I would like to thank all my lecturers and UP for such a great supporting to make sure that I have equipped with my exam, my progressing learning and career growth in the future as a nurse”.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE FACULTY OF DENTISTRY – 2020

• 100% pass rate in the National Exit Exam in January 2020
• Successful transition to online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic
• Almost all lecturers undertake UPOP and Google Meet training
• UP hosts Unident course on Anklos implants
• UP hosts course for Cambodian dentists on new National Cross Infection Control Guidelines during Covid 19 pandemic in conjunction with Cambodian Dental Council and MOH
• UP lecturers present at the Cambodian Dental Association conference in January
• UP sets up new Postgraduate Diploma of Implantology for 18 Cambodian dentists, with top lecturers and clinicians from Australia and Cambodia
• UP welcomes visiting Japanese dentists from Denriche Asia
• International lecturers (some on-line) included Professor Kack Kyun Kim (Korea), Dr Geoff Borlase (Australia), Assoc Prof John Payne (Australia), Assoc Prof Steve Cohn (Australia), Prof Niladri Maiti (Kurdistan), Dr Siddharth Dhanaraj, IMU, Malaysia), Assoc Prof Mas Suryalis Ahmad (UiTM, Malaysia), Dr Nur Aliana Hidayah Mohamed (UiTM, Malaysia), Dr Olivia Murdoch (NZ), Dr Patrick Tseng (Australia), Assoc Prof George Pal (Australia), Dr Hazmir Abdul Wahab (UiTM, Malaysia), Dr Michael Walker (Australia), Dr Cecilia So (Australia), Dr Po Lu (Australia), Dr Rohtan Rodrick (Australia), Assoc Prof Louise Brown (Australia), Assoc Prof Kent Yuen (Australia).
• UP hosts international wisdom tooth course and orthodontics course under Dental Training Academy from Singapore
• Two UP dental students travel to US on exchange program to UNE but get caught in early stages of Covid-19 pandemic
• Two UP dental students travel to Australia for exchange program sponsored by AHHA
• UP Faculty of Dentistry staff participate in regional meeting on oral cancer (APOCNET), the Southeast Asian Association of Dental Education (SEAADE) meeting, and the International Association of Dental Research (IADR) online meetings – presenting several papers.
• UP Faculty of Dentistry Dean appointed to SEAADE Council
• Students in year 3 get upgraded SIM lab sets of instruments and materials to enhance their learning
• Senior students and staff get training on dental photography by Dr Peter Sheridan from Sydney University

• UPDC adopts stringent cross infection control measures to prevent Covid infection
• Donation of 4 Dentsply Sirona Rotary Endo machines for root canal treatment
• UP hosts 18 Oral Health Therapy students and their tutors from Newcastle University in Australia for a week
• Clinic and faculty staff attend First Aid training
• UP builds new 2 chair orthodontic clinic
• Appointment of 3 new general dental practice residents

• Dental students participated in the Healthy Kids Cambodia project providing preventive dental treatment for school children in early 2020
• Dental students continued to provide emergency dental services in the prisons for most of the year
• Faculty of Dentistry hosts team from NYU in the US for field work at Chaktamok Primary School

• UP dental faculty and students publish over 20 articles in international dental journals
• UP staff present 3 papers at the International Association of Dental Research meeting
• 24 students complete Thesis Defense – with no failures
• UP students participate in clinical trial in Kampong Speu province on silver diamine fluoride
• UP faculty appointed to the editorial boards of several international journals

• UP played important part in the development of the National Cross Infection Control Guidelines for Dental Clinics During Covid-19 Pandemic
• UP partners with Asia Pacific Dental Students Association in planning for their next international meeting in Cambodia
• UP asked by the Southeast Asian Association of Dental Education to host their meeting in 2022
• UP dental students help set up first ROTARACT club in Cambodia in partnership with Rotary Club of Phnom Penh Central and Rotary Club of Phnom Penh Capitol.
• Joined several consultation meetings at the MOH
• Organized part of “careers day” for graduating dental students

TOP UP DENTAL GRADUATES CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO UP

UP is about to graduate its third batch of dentists. Presently several of our top graduates from the first two groups have been employed at UP in various positions. Dr Horn Rithvitou is primarily involved in research projects, including overseeing 2 clinical trials, providing statistical support for thesis writing, and teaching in the Introduction to Dentistry course in year 2 and the Biostatistics course in year 5. Dr Chray Mengkheng works 2 days a week as the Community Dentistry Fieldwork coordinator, helping to organize and supervise students in our school oral health program, along with helping in the clinic and lab. We also have 4 top graduates facilitating the Problem Based Learning sessions for students in Year 3 and Year 5 this semester, Dr Chray Mengkheng, Dr Pheach Rattanak, Dr Sao Soksan, and Dr Kaing Koung. In the lab we have recently engaged Dr Tort Ravy, Dr Chea Senghuy, Dr Meng Bunleng and Dr Seang Chanthyda to teach alongside our Thailand-trained Lab Technician Mr Eng Kiny. In addition we employ 6 new graduates as general practice residents. They work in the clinic treating private patients, and sometimes supervise the undergraduate students. They are Dr Pheach Rattanak, Dr Theam Terong, Dr Bun Sophealeak, Dr Choun Lina, Dr Meng Bunleng, and Dr Duong Pechdara. Many of our talented young graduates are interested in pursuing postgraduate studies, since Cambodia lacks specialists in many areas. Currently some are applying for scholarships in Thailand. UP is very happy to see its own graduates returning to UP to help educate the new generation of dental students, and we greatly appreciate their contributions!

TWELVE REASONS you should major in Pharmacy at University of Puthisastra?

In 2019 the UP Faculty of Dentistry established a Student Mentor Program and selected 6 of the top students from the Year 7 class to be Mentors. The main purpose of the program was to develop leadership skills among these outstanding students, and to provide support for younger students who needed help with their studies. The program required Mentors to commit to a few hours per week mentoring junior students in the UP dental clinic and in the community programs (Prison and Healthy Kids Cambodia). They also organized small group learning sessions for some of the junior students, and volunteered their time to help visiting overseas students and dentists. Each mentor received a special clinical uniform. In recognition of their contribution during the year, the Mentors were last week given an official UP certificate of appreciation by the Dean Professor Callum Durward. Mentors for 2019-2020 were: Choun Lina, Srean Bunsrong, Heng Rithi, Nam Virak, Lao Ryna, and Sieng Chanrithy

The Graduation Exam for batch-5 pharmacy students

Faculty of Pharmacy is strongly committed to produce highest quality graduates with knowledge, skills and good attitudes to serve the Cambodian community. The quality of assessment is one of the key priorities to ensure the graduates quality. As every year, University of Puthisastra (UP) always prepares the internal exit examination (MCQ and OSCE) for year-5 pharmacy student before they are allowed to take the National Exit Exam. The Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE) was conducted by using Computer based system led by the UP technical committee and under to supervision of representatives from Ministry of Health (MoH). This year, the exam was help on the 13th of January for MCQs and from the 21st to the 25th of January for OSCE. These assessments have provided reliable and objective data on student learning and help to strengthen graduates quality before entering into practice settings. At the same time it also develops faculty capacity on how to implement a reliable framework to measuring tangible outcomes for learning and teaching within the university.

UP Dental Students Learn Oral Surgery Skills in the SIM Lab

Over recent weeks the UP Year 5 dental students have been honing their skills in oral surgery (in particular wisdom tooth removal) in the SIM Lab. The students were each given a pig’s mandible to work on, and were required to make incisions, raise a flap and remove bone, all under the eye of UP Oral Surgeon Dr Som Sochenda who as a Masters in OMF surgery from Mahidol University in Thailand. By the end of the session students felt confident about the technique, and are now ready to carry out third molar and other minor surgery on patients. Students need patients – so for a very low price you can have your wisdom teeth expertly removed in the UP Dental Clinic. Students are closely supervised to ensure you receive the best care possible. Thanks to Dr Som Sochenda, Dr Chhray Mengkheng and Dr Horn Vitou for conducting the preclinical training sessions.

UP joins Two Workshops in Siem Reap

UP is extremely fortunate in having a dedicated Teaching a Learning department whose sole job is to strengthen international level education at UP and ensure students achieve the very best outcome and salaries

A representative from QLTS, University of Puthisastra, joined two workshops in Siem Reap, organised by Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports (MoEYS) and Accreditation Committee of Cambodia (ACC).

The first workshop was held on 14th-15th January 2021 at Regency Angkor Hotel with participation from various Cambodia Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The theme of the workshop is “Dissemination workshop on the result of the study on the implementation of National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and Quality Assurance (QA) in CLMV countries”. The study is on the implementation of QA and NQF for academic programs – Finance, Civil Engineering, and Agriculture (Food). The findings show that Cambodia and Vietnam are at intermediate stage where QA structures and processes have been agreed upon, communicated and are operational. Comparing to Lao and Myanmar, they are just at the entry stage where an overarching vision of QA of qualifications has been agreed upon. For the NQF, Cambodia and Vietnam are in stage 6 where some structures and processes have been established and are operational. By contrast, Lao and Myanmar are in stage 4 where the initial development and design completed.

The second workshop was held on 16th-18th January 2021 at Angkor Paradise Hotel. It is a reflection workshop on the Accreditation of Cambodia HEIs. The purposes of the workshop are:

• to discuss where ACC is through the reflections on the results from the meeting led by HE Minister, ACC road map, current assessment reports, assessment standards/indicators and tools, and
• to discuss where shall ACC reach, how to start a new pathway to reach the goals, the delegation of the power to reach the goals, and ACC staff performance management.

The road map is the Program Accreditation as the first step. The workshop was then led by the Work Bank representatives, who provided the feedback, suggestion, and recommendation on ACC assessment standards/indicators and tools. In addition, the Bank representative emphasizes that a good Financial Management of a HEI is crucial for the sustainability. A HEI must ensure a FM system that is effective and efficient for smooth activities in responding to strategic plans and achieving goals. The workshops are Cambodia HEIs to work hard on quality rather than quantity.