As we come to the end of 2021, I reflect back that 2020 and 2021 have been two terrible years of COVID which locked down the whole world. This created enormous problems all over the world including in education. Many people lost their jobs and 2.7 BILLION students had their education seriously disrupted. Cambodia was not spared with schools and universities closed for more than 18 months.

Many schools and universities face huge problems with many going bankrupt. Many were unable to adapt to online learning or offered poor quality (just Zoom, Facebook Messenger etc). Many students simply have tragically been left behind. However, where many other universities have failed, UP shines through.

We are very proud of UP because we worked very hard together to succeed and achieve our vision – the very best graduates for Cambodia.

UP has continued to innovate and take the lead despite the serious problems many schools and universities have faced.

Our top highlights are:

• Only Cambodian university to be in prestigious THE rankings with other elite universities.
• Best results in 2020 for Cambodia exit exams. UP degrees – 99% (other universities 97%), UP associate degrees – 90% (other universities 85%). MD, nursing and dentistry all achieved 100% pass and pharmacy 97%.
• Cambodia first – Launched hospital pre-training course to prepare medical students for hospital training
• Cambodia first – developed our own modern Learning Management system (UPOP) (not just Zoom, facebook etc) – no other Cambodian university has this. Allow students to continue their learning and not be left behind.
• Delivered more than 49,000hrs of online learning across 550 courses – allowing students to keep uip and not be left behind
• Foundation Year commenced. Allowing UP students to be a year ahead of their peers.
• Invested $750,000 in new equipment. Especially for medicine and pharmacy.
• Highly qualified staff – 71% have doctorates and 84% masters or above.
• We understand financial challenges and have kept fees as low as possible (only 3% increase) when other schools and universiuties are increasing by 10% or more. UP combines best quality with one of lowest costs of any Cambodian private university.
• Cambodian first – only Cambodian university to offer post-graduate CPD training across all major fields – medicine, nursing/midwifery, pharmacy, dentistry, lab tech. For example, pharmacy has delivered modern training to over 1264 pharmacists.
• Introduced flipped and hybrid learning – UP joins the best international universities by adopting flipped and hybrid learning – modern, powerful methods to promote learning. One of the very few Cambodian universities adopting flipped.
• Signed more than 150 MOUs to allow our students to get best quality international exchanges and education.
• Launching new programs, e.g. Bachelor of Science (Research). Postgraduate implantology, endodontics, etc
• Offer 69 L&T training courses to teachers and 14 to students to help improve learning and teaching.
• UP students winning local and international competitions.
• Social responsibility – ongoing missions to orphanages, schools etc. For example more than 50 students volunteered to help TYDA in Cambodia’s fight against COVID and UP friends donate almost $8000 to LRDE charity.
• Quality improvements in 264 courses in 2021, 250 more in 2022. To improve curricula to ensure that UP graduates get the best jobs and the highest salaries

It’s been a very challenging year for everyone. But UP believes in, and keeps investing in, our future. Together we have succeeded where so many others have failed.

I look forward to continue working with and for our UP students – to help them achieve their dreams. With these solid foundations in place, UP and Cambodia can only get better and better.

Proud to be a UPer.

I wish you a very Merry Christmas, a happy New Year and a much better 2022!

Professor Ian Findlay,
President and Vice-Chancellor,
University of Puthisastra

OPEN NOW! NEE/Pre-University Preparatory Course!

• Deadline: 31 January 2022
• Start date: 24 January 2022
• Hours/week: 12 hours per week
• Study shift: Morning time or Afternoon time
• Registration Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfmjnRioy355_hofTI_ZCxL9UMO97XPRXV6L0o2Q2qBd3476g/viewform?fbclid=IwAR2quG7nRew62TewEyF4DG-cdW2WGKP2JZDBUycvpfDNcbX57OvkihRfl-M

UP Launches first ever Alumni Event

On December 17, University of Puthisastra (UP) organized the first alumni meet for all alumni from all batches and majors and also the official launch of UP Alumni Club.

This special event was presided over by Mrs. Krasna Cham, CEO of SOMA Group, Prof. Ian Findlay, President and Vice-Chancellor of University of Puthisastra, the leadership team of University of Puthisastra, professors, staff, students and alumni of University of Puthisastra.

The main aims of UP Alumni Club are:

• Develop and preserve solidarity and engagement with UP, and connections with fellow graduates,
• Support information exchange between members to enhance careers,
• Provide access to and development of alumni benefits through member networks,
• Enhance the prestige and affiliation of alumni,
• Support and promote the network of former UP students, including by focusing on graduate success stories on the UP website and social media, and trying to increase traffic on those sites,
• Support graduates to continue lifelong learning in health sciences and information and communication technologies, through professional development programmes, classes, mentoring, ongoing training and technology updating

This social event is the best starting point to build a strong foundation and networks for the success of all UP Alumni members and the social development commitment that each alumnus is committed to during their study, in line with the 3 core values of UP, which are Honor Self, Respect Others, and Develop Society.

The Faculty of Medicine Conducted an Orientation on Clerkship Policy and Logbook for MD Year 4 Students 

Prior to the start of the MD year 4 clerkship, the Faculty of Medicine has provided the students with an orientation on clerkship policy and logbook. The policy illustrates the responsibilities and rights of the medical students during their training and the respective responsibilities of the hospital and the university. It also states evaluation and assessment of the students at every hospital rotation. The Faculty wishes success to all MD year 4 students in their first hospital medical training!

Dr Chea Sin joined FIP-UNITWIN Global Summit on Pharmaceutical Education

As a dean of the only one school of pharmacy in Cambodia with FIP (International Pharmaceutical Federation) membership, Dr Chea Sin was invited to join the “FIP-UNITWIN Global Summit on Pharmaceutical Education” held on Dec 13, 2021 01:00 PM Amsterdam, Berlin, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna.

The FIP-UNITWIN means International Pharmaceutical Federation- University Twinning and Networking (UNITWIN). The summit was participated by 264 deans of schools of pharmacy from across the globe. The summit aims to co-create a roadmap to advance pharmaceutical education across the globe.

In October 2021, the FIP organized the FIP-UNITWIN regional workshops where the FIP analysed regional SWOTs (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats), and developed regional roadmaps for pharmaceutical education. The final roadmaps were launched at the global summit and this will lead to the launch of a FIP global call to action on pharmaceutical education. Participants at the summit were asked to pledge their commitment to action for advancing pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences education, and the FIP will be presenting the next steps for establishing new FIP-UNITWIN centres for excellence to deliver the roadmaps.

UP STAFF publish research paper on The Factors Associated with Under-five Mortality in Cambodia in CJPH

Abstract
Introduction

Recently a paper was accepted for publication in Cambodia Journal of Public Health. The lead author was UP Lecturer Samnang Um. The article was entitled: The Factors Associated with Under-five Mortality in Cambodia: Data Analysis of the Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey

Methods

This study analyzed data from the 2014 Cambodia Demographic Health Survey (CDHS). A total of 611 clusters (urban vs. rural) from 15,825 households with 17,578 women aged 15-49 years old were selected for the interview. We used weighted analysis and restricted 5,880 eligible children to the latest births aged 0-59 months. Multivariable logistic regression was performed using STATA V14.2 to assess the significant factors associated with U5Ms.

Conclusions

Factors associated with increased odds of U5M included children born from older mothers aged 35-49 years with adjusted odds ratios (AOR=9.63, 95% CI: 1.48-32.61), low birth weight children (AOR=4.43, 95% CI: 2.32-7.35), and mothers living in rural residences (AOR=2.76, 95% CI: 1.25-6.10). However, children born from mothers’ reports of contraceptive use were a protective factor of U5M, with AOR= 0.30 (95% CI: 0.18-0.52).

Conclusions

Older mothers, children with low birth weight and children born to mothers living in rural areas had a higher risk of U5M. Mothers reported using contraceptives had a reduced risk of child mortality. Therefore, Cambodia should consider these socio-demographic and behavioral factors when designing maternal and child health program interventions aimed at further reducing the U5M in Cambodia.
The full article could be found here: https://cjph.niph.org.kh/index.php/cjph/article/view/82

UP DENTAL STUDENTS RECEIVE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS FROM AHHA

The Australian Health Humanitarian Aid NGO (also called AHHA) has been partnering with UP for the past 5 years. They focus on providing free eye surgery and dental treatment for disadvantaged Cambodians. At UP they have teamed up with our Faculty of Dentistry to provide dental treatment for hundreds of needy and disabled children.

In 2021, since they could not come to Cambodia, they offered a Community Service Award for dental students who had submitted a proposal to provide oral health education and basic dental services to target groups in the community. Each award includes a $500 grant to go towards the running of the project. AHHA identified 4 projects deserving of the award, and during the UP ALUMNI event the 4 leaders of those groups received their AHHA Community Service awards. The certificates were presented on behalf of AHHA by Dean of Dentistry, Professor Callum Durward. Watching on Facebook streaming was Dr Michele Tjeuw from Sydney, Australia, who is the Head of the Dental Section of AHHA.

The first award went to Ms Lorn Pechmarrynet for a project entitled YOU SMILE, I SMILE. This project involves a team of UP dental students providing basic dental care for special needs children in Phnom Penh and several provinces. They will also help educate the teachers, parents and caregivers of the children, with the aim of improving their oral health..

The second award went to Mr Nhil Yuk Yl for the CYCLO PROJECT. A big group of Cyclo drivers will come to UP for a medical check-up, basic dental treatment and education, and a gift of food, hygiene and healthcare products.
Third to receive an award was Mr Yorm Sileng for the project entitled MOBILE DENTAL CLUB. This project involves traveling to Siem Reap to help children in a local orphanage achieve better dental and general health.
The final award went to Mr Im Puthisa, for a project called DENTAL CARE PROJECT. This project is in Kampong Speu at a local orphanage, where the team will give oral health education to the children and caregivers, and apply fluoride, and fissure sealants on the children’s teeth. They will also provide the children with toothbrushes and toothpaste, and follow up every 6 months. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS! AND THANK YOU TO AHHA FOR YOUR GENEROSITY.

2021 Major Achievements for Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Puthisastra

Despite COVID-19 pandemic, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Puthisastra, has achieved so much beyond expectations. Below are some of the major achievements for 2021:
I.Research

1. Dr Chea Sin, Dean of Pharmacy, presented a paper on ‘The experience of emergency online learning during COVID- 19 for university students at a private university in Cambodia’ at CESCam 2021.
2. Dr Chea Sin published a paper entitled Potential anti-Acanthamoeba and anti-adhesion activities of Annona muricata and Combretum trifoliatum extracts and their synergistic effects in combination with chlorhexidine against Acanthamoeba triangularis trophozoites and cysts in Heliyon.

II. Academic Affairs

1. Two Internal Exit Exams were held for Batch 5 with excellent high scores.
2. A faculty assessment working group was created to make change to faculty assessment and create requirements for assessment for all lecturers at faculty of pharmacy
3. FoP Curriculum Review Working Group was created and working well with roles and responsibilities to review and develop the curriculum and new program in the faculty.
4. Vennue Hub was launched at UP Faculty of Pharmacy. Vennue Hub is a platform for students and pharmacists to use to adopt their continuing professional development. University of Puthisatra is the first University in Cambodia that has cooperated with Vennue’s Foundation to implement a new digital platform, Vennue’s Digital Hub, to improve pharmacy students’ and pharmacists’ competencies. Vennue’s digital hub offers three important advantages:
-globally recognized certifications for continuing professional development
-advance career by connecting with peers and keeping pace with best practices in patient-centered care
-strengthen their own healthcare practices by refreshing and increasing their knowledge
5. UPOP and Google Meet were fully applied in UP Pharmacy to teach students online
6. UP pharmacy students were assigned to do Community pharmacy clerkship at Ucare pharmacies, the biggest and the best standard community pharmacy chain in Cambodia.
7. 283 UP Pharmacy Students were trained by Vennue Foundation on “Introduction to Patient-Centered Care Basic Pharmacology, Good Dispensing Practice, Medication Adherence, Pharmacovigilance, Medication Safety in Pregnancy and Lactation, Patient and Healthcare Worker Safety, Antibiotic Stewardship, Chronic Disease Management: Diabetes, Chronic Disease Management: Hypertension” and we got a lot of new experience and knowledge in field pharmacy to improve our pharmacy skill in Cambodia to international standard.

8. Two new softwares (Ex-Pharm and Ex-Physio) were introduced at Faculty of Pharmacy to each student. This two series software of computer assisted learning (CAL) packages contain various programs which simulate animal experiments in pharmacology and physiology. There are experimental pharmacology (Ex-Pharm) and experi mental physiology (Ex-Physio) series software. The purpose of “Ex-Physio” is for aid the practical work of physiology’s subject for pharmacy student on using the experiment in physiology on animals. Whereas the purpose of another program, Ex-Pharm, also aid to practical work of pharmacology’s subject for the student to apply knowledge into practice to a better understanding of animal experiments in pharmacology
9. 68 pharmacy courses for semester 1, 2021-2022 were approved by CAC

III. Staff and Faculty Development

1. Dr Chea Sin, Dean of Faculty of Pharmacy, finished International Dean’s Course Southeast Asia 2020-2021 through a DAAD scholarship. This course was jointly organized by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK), the Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences and the Centre for Higher Education (CHE). It aims at strengthening higher education management structures in developing countries.
2. Two pharmacy faculties were assigned to join the “Early Detection of Unsafe Food by Risk-Based Program” from February 15th to 25th 2021. This program was co-organized by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, KKU, Thailand, and Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation under the project of Mekong – Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Special Fund. The objectives of this training are to understand the method of detection and analyzing by risk-based approach, to set the sampling plan for risk products, and to increase their awareness of reporting and communication to the public.

IV. International and National Contributions

1. Dr. Chea Sin, Dean of Faculty of Pharmacy, was appointed as the Pharmacy Board Member from University of Puthisastra(UP), Cambodia of the GOMHA CAMBODIA BRANCH from 2021-2023.
2. Dr Chea Sin joined the 6th AASP Pharmacy Education Forum 2021 with deans, directors, academics and leaders from all Asian countries to share each other the challenges and find ways to move forward together and prosper together
3. Dr Chea Sin was appointed by the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI) as a member of Health Technology Committee together with representatives from other Universities, Private Sectors and Government Sectors to create a roadmap for health technology to respond to the world economic revolution and Covid-19 situation. This project was supported by Science and Technology Institute, STEPI, of Republic of Korea.
4. Dr Chea Sin was recognized as continuing members for global health initiatives by Vennue Foundation, a US-based health organization, to support healthcare professionals around the world to cope with COVID-19’s issues.
5. Dr Chea Sin represented Cambodia to join Global Academic Leaders Forum (GALF) 2021 FIP AIM GALF 2021 Virtual designed to answer the developing world’s needs in innovative and collaborative ways and this year’s topic I s “Design a post-COVID-19 classroom: Transforming pharmacy education”. This forum gave an opportunity for Dr Chea Sin to contribute to two workshops. One workshop was held to discuss how to plans for remote and hybrid learning after COVID 19 for faculty of pharmacy and the options to move forward by adapting face to face and or online learning which called hybrid flexible or HyFlex. The other workshop was held to discuss about leading change to improve pharmacy education. The participants are deans of faculties of pharmacy from all over the world. Dr Chea Sin is happy that UP is moving in the right direction as other developed countries in term of teaching and learning during COVID 19 and plan for teaching and learning after COVID 19.
6. Dr Chea Sin joined DIES’ 20th Anniversary Conference, which was jointly established by the DAAD and the HRK in 2001 to facilitate the international exchange on innovative approaches to higher education management and to strengthen the management capacities of universities in developing and emerging countries.
7. Dr Chea Sin attended the 2021 US-Thai & ASEAN Pharmacy Consortium from June 06 to June 09, 2021. The objective of the virtual conference is to share each other on what we do in term of teaching & learning, assessments, and clinical rotations during this COVID-19 pandemic, as well as exploring collaborations opportunity in research and education among pharmacy schools in ASEAN and in the United States.
8. A wonderful talk show called Let’s Talk Pharma was created by Faculty of Pharmacy with the support from pharmacy students and alumni. This talk show aims to share high school graduates and pharmacy students learning experiences from senior and alumni students on pharmacy program at University of Puthisastra. It was designed into 4 episodes by using facebook live. The episode #1, #2, #3 and #4 respectively talked about the reasons to choose UP pharmacy, laboratory and research activities, extra-curricular activities, and achievement and success story from alumni.
9. 57 UP pharmacy students volunteered to combat against Covid-19 with Samdech Techo Voluntary Youth Doctor Association (TYDA), Samdech Techo Voluntary Youth Doctor Association, and Doctor Alliance-UYFC.
10. Ms Ou Socheata, UP pharmacy student joined as an EnergyLab’s Clean Energy Youth Ambassador.
11. Dr Chea Sin was reappointed as a member of International Scientific Committee for Pharmacien Hospitalier et Clinicien for the second term from January 2022. Pharmacien Hospitalier et Clinicien is part of Elsevier, a leader in information and analytics for customers across the global research and health ecosystems. Pharmacien Hospitalier et Clinicien promotes optimal pharmaceutical care, safer uses of medicines and medical devices, assess therapeutics and improves patient safety goals. Partnering the French Society of Clinical Pharmacy, Center for Information on Therapeutic Agents, National Association of Clinical Pharmacy Teachers, it publishes recent research reports, synthetic and critical reviews, and didactical articles on all fields of health-system pharmacy (pharmacotherapy, medical devices use, drug compounding, compliance, dosage, posology and route of use, pharmacy education, family medicine, information technology, drug security and quality of patient care).
12. Faculty of Pharmacy (FoP) had provided 18 training sessions within 3 rounds of CPD to 1264 Cambodian pharmacists in 2021.

V. Laboratory Capacity Improvement

1. About 70,000 US Dollars was invested in laboratory equipment for a new High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) LC-2050C 3D Brand Shimadzu and UPS 6 KVA Brand DELTA. This improves the drug quality control and research capacity of pharmacy laboratories.
2. Three UP Pharmacy Faculties (Ms. Touch Sokkeang, Mr. Tan Chantrea, snd Dr. Chea Sin) joined a Vennue’s roundtable Q&A Cancer Care series:’’Oncological Surgery during Covid-19″ on March 25, 2021. During the discusion and Q&A session, Dr Chea Sin, a representive from Cambodia, gave a brief report on current COVID-19 situation in Cambodia, and its impacts on current health care system, as well as the involvement of volunteer healthcare workers to fight against COVID-19. The roundtable was created to share knowledge, experiences and support one another during this COVID 19 pandemic.

VI. Collaborations

1. Faculty of Pharmacy signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with BARKOU company in a research and natural product projects.
2. Faculty of Pharmacy and Vennue Foundation are working together to make a series of CPD trainings for Cambodian Pharmacists.
3. Three Alumni graduated in Master Degree from Khon Kaen University and come back to join faculty of pharmacy to teach the future generations.

VII. Visibility

163 pharmacy students were selected via online national entrance examination for University of Puthisastra (UP).

ACHIEVEMENTS OF FACULTY OF DENTISTRY IN 2021

In spite of the difficulties experienced with Covid-19 over the past two years, dentistry at UP has continued to progress, thanks for the hard work of our UP staff, students and supporters. Here are some of our achievements over the past year:

• Record number of students accepted to study dentistry at UP
• Registration of UP dental clinic as a Dental Hospital
• Nearing completion of Post-Graduate Diploma of Implantology (Australian/Khmer teaching team)
• Completion of Unident Dental Implant course
• Completion of Unident Dental Implant course
• Start of new Postgraduate Diploma in Endodontics (Australian/Khmer teaching team)
• Approval from Cambodian Dental Council to be an official CPD provider
• Appointment of Assoc Prof Dr Anand Marya to IADR-SEA Council
• Publication of approximately 100 journal articles in international dental journals by UP Faculty of Dentistry authors
• 7 CPD lectures for Cambodian dentists (including orthodontics series – 8)
• collaboration with International College of Dentists to provide CPD
• special webinars for Cambodian dental students hosted by UP, with local and international speakers Participation in SEAADE, IADR, IDCMR (2 prizes in student competition), ADEAP, and APOCNET regional dental conferences – with 12 presentations by UP staff and students – Participation in the 2nd Biennial Conference of Comparative Education Society of Cambodia (CES Cam) – with 6 presentations
• All dental lecturers and staff trained in UPOP and teaching and learning methodologies
• UP faculty invited to speak at approximately 50 international online conferences and webinars
• Signed new MOUs with 4 overseas universities and 4 local NGOs
• Purchased new compressor for SIM lab ($9,000) and intraoral scanner for clinic ($11,000)
• Educational support from Dentsply Sirona company with long-term loan of 4 X-Smart Plus Endo motors and dis counted endodontic supplies
• Donation of endodontic supplies from Apex Dental Solutions
• Recruitment of UK dental technician, Mr Andrew Sinclair
• Employment of 7 new international part-time lecturers (for online learning)
• 23 new Adjunct appointments of dental academics from countries including Malaysia and Australia, who are helping provide education to our undergraduate and postgraduate students
• Host of Cambodian Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Conference and Asia Pacific Dental Students Association (APDSA) conference
• Revision and improvement of all semester 1 and semester 2 course outlines
• Participation in MOH National Competency Framework for Dentists meetings
• Six UP dental students entered two regional quiz competitions – in Dental Physiology and Oral Biology
• UP students win 5 Community Service Awards from AHHA for their community projects
• AHHA supports provision of dentures by UP dental students for 35 patients from a disadvantaged community
• UP students provide free dental care for cyclo drivers, and children from over 20 NGOs
• UP dental students provide dental care and education at 4 schools for deaf and blind children
• UP dental students provide dental services at Prison and 4 primary schools (during times permitted)
• UP invited to host the 2022 SEAADE conference in Siem Reap – for first time
• 6 thesis groups successfully defended thesis
• More than one hundred articles published in UP Voice

5TH INTERNATIONAL DENTAL PHYSIOLOGY QUIZ 2021

Three dental students (Soun Somaly, Chhim Chamreoun, Na Chihan) from year 6 recently formed a team to join the 2021 5th International Dental Physiology Quiz organized by University of Malaya. We competed against 48 groups of students from universities around the world, and to our credit the UP team managed to reach the second round of the competition. The questions were very difficult and there was little time to answer, however the students gained a lot of experience and improved their knowledge about dental physiology.

The competition highlighted the gap in knowledge between some of the international students and ourselves – something we need to work hard on to close in the future. The students also enjoyed getting to know some of the international students taking part. The students would love to participate in similar events in the future.

THESIS DEFENSE BY UP DENTAL STUDENTS

Students from Dentistry Batch 2, Meng Bunleng, Tort Ravy and Yen Kimlay, recently defended their thesis entitled “Dental Student Perceptions of the Healthy Kids Cambodia Project”, which was supervised by Prof Callum Durward.

This thesis provided useful information on the benefits and challenges of this innovative and ground-breaking school dental program which UP has been participating in for the past five years. The thesis has identified some areas where improvements can be made to enhance student learning increase satisfaction when they participate in this worthwhile project. The thesis was awarded with Credit by the examiners, Assoc Prof Tineke Water, Dr Khom Pisal, Dr Tak Ranuch, and Adjunct Assoc Prof Chher Tepirou.

The abstract is below:
Background:

The Healthy Kids Cambodia (HKC) project provides Community Based
Experiences (CBEs) for dental students, giving them an opportunity to step away from their dental chairs and understand the larger context in which they are working.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to explore UP dental students’ experiences and perceptions of the HKC project.

Methods:

Following informed consent, a cross sectional survey of 94 UP dental students from years 6 and 7 who had participated in the HKC project was carried out. Each student completed a written questionnaire. Open and closed questions explored their experiences and perceptions of participating in the project.

Results:

Most students believed the HKC project was worthwhile, and that they had benefited from taking part. Students liked helping the children and believed the project was improving the children’s oral health. Personal benefits identified by students included developing skills in communicating with and managing children, learning more about prevention, improving clinical skills, and learning how to run a school-based dental program. Some complaints included difficult working conditions, occasional shortages of instruments and materials, transport problems, lapses in cross infection control, and some students being absent or arriving late.

Conclusions:

The HKC project experience not only provided an excellent opportunity for students to develop clinical skills, but also positively affected their attitudes and perceptions more generally. Their participation in the project enhanced their sense of professionalism and enabled them to appreciate the important role the dentist has in helping disadvantaged groups in the community.

20% Discount on Drinks by 1997 Coffee Bar

1997 Coffee Bar agreed to have a collaboration with University of Puthisastra to provide the best drinks and a comfortable venue with a very special price to UP students and staff. There was a signing agreement between both parties on November 28, 2021, and there are some duties for both parties to fulfill in order to enjoy the benefits. Students and staff from UP need to present their ID cards in order to get the discount.

Note: The 20% discount is applied to drinks for the consumption at the café only. 1997 coffee bar has two locations. The first branch is at No 7, Street 606, Sangkat Boeung Kak 2, Khan Toul Kork, Phnom Penh. The second branch is at No.81, Street 19, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh (Behind RUFA).

HEALTHY KIDS PROGRAM STARTS AGAIN!

Following the arrival Covid-19 two years ago, schools closed and our community oral health programs (Healthy Kids Cambodia (HKC) and the prison dental service) came to a stop. However with the reopening of primary schools, we have recently been allowed to restart the HKC program, with year 4 dental students carrying out Level 1 services (oral health education, supervised daily tooth brushing and application of silver diamine fluoride to arrest dental decay) one day per week. Before students could go to the field they underwent an intensive course to learn what to do, and had supervised hands-on practice on each other. The training was provided by Dr Sieng Chanthyda (One-2-One community dentist and part-time UP tutor) and Dr Hour Lim Heng (UP community dentist).

In this program we work closely with our NGO partner One-2-One Cambodia. We have initially rolled out the program at a Special Education School in Chhbar Ampov. This school has many children who are deaf or blind or who have other disabilities.

Currently Year 5 dental students are undertaking training for HKC Level 2. Level 2 involves placing fluoride-releasing fissure sealants on the permanent molar teeth, and providing simple white fillings (ART restorations) using only hand instruments (no drills or injections needed). The students will soon be going into the schools to provide this Level 2 care.

UP students not only gain valuable clinical experience through the HKC program, but also learn valuable lessons about how to organize and run a community-based program, and how to work together with members of the community to improve their health and well-being.