The course revolutionised the way I approached teaching

Rob is a Specialist Registrar in Orthodontics at the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham and Charles Clifford Dental Hospital in Sheffield. Originally from Manchester, UK, he graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2014 with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS). After finishing his vocational dental training the following year, Rob completed his Dental core training year in Oral & Maxillofacial surgery at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals in 2016.

Rob explains, “I also worked overseas as an Associate Dentist in Australia before returning to Sheffield to work as a Paediatric Dentist in 2018. Since then, I have been involved in teaching and examining the Undergraduate dental students and dental hygiene and therapy students at the University of Sheffield. Most recently, I have been appointed as an examiner for the Royal College of Surgeons England.”

“Before completing the course, I did not fully understand what it was that makes someone a great teacher. The course made me understand how I can best adapt my teaching to suit the learner and facilitate their learning. The course has also given me the knowledge and skills to develop my teaching practice and reinforced the importance of reflection in everyday clinical and teaching practice.”

The opportunity to meet, discuss and learn from a diverse group during the course helped Rob develop problem-solving and team working skills.

“I would certainly recommend this course to anyone with any interest in teaching at any level. The study days were brilliant, and the staff were friendly, approachable and extremely supportive throughout the year. Being a part of the course gave me an opportunity to learn alongside other members of the medical and dental profession which was an extremely enriching experience. Completing the PGCert was easily manageable even when working full-time alongside completing the course.”

In his current role, Rob cares for patients who have been referred to the hospital orthodontic department by their general dental or medical practitioner. This includes patients who present with significant skeletal and dental abnormalities which may require specialist multidisciplinary treatment and patients deemed to have a significant dental malocclusion. 

“Alongside working as a full-time Specialist Registrar in Orthodontics, I am now completing a full-time master’s degree in Orthodontics at the University of Sheffield.”

“My plan is to complete my specialist training and become a Specialist Orthodontist and hopefully become a Consultant Orthodontist with an interest in craniofacial malformations. I intend to continue to be involved with dental undergraduate and postgraduate teaching at a local level, but also hope to get involved with national bodies who help facilitate and develop undergraduate and postgraduate dental training.”