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"The Faculty is not distinguished for the rigour of its academic programmes only, but also for its stellar extra-curricula activities. After all, it won various titles of non-classroom activities during this year, including that of the University's Knight Championship, won for the second year in a row", said Prof Abdurrahman Alyoubi, KAU Vice-President for Educational Affairs, at the closing ceremony of students' activities of the Faculty of Dentistry held on Wednesday May 11th, 2011 at the Auditorium of King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH).
The event was graced with the presence of Dr Adnan Al-Mazrooa, KAU Vice-President, Prof Ahmed Nagadi, KAU Vice-President for Business and Knowledge Creativity, Dr Abdullah Mohorji, Dean of Students' Affairs, Dr Mahmoud Shaheen Al-Ahwal, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dr Abdelghani Mira, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry.
In his speech, Dr Mira enumerated the Faculty's achievements during the year.
According to him, new units were established, including the Alumni Unit, the Public Relations' Unit and the Academic Staff Development Unit.
New postgraduate programmes were also introduced, including a Master's in orthodontics and a PhD in pediatric dentistry. Existing programmes, such as the Bachelor of Dentistry (BDent) and the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDentS), were also updated.
A cooperation agreement was also formalized with King's College, UK, to mutually award doctoral degrees in a number of dentistry specialties.
The Faculty also concluded a paperless faculty project, and is currently working to increase its student intake.
Many other activities were also staged during the year. For instance, an oral health programme was held for visually impaired children at the Saudi German Hospital in Jeddah as part of a campaign entitled “How to Get a Healthy Beautiful Smile”.
24 trainee dentists took part in the programme, which was held in collaboration with Ebsar Foundation for Low Vision and Blind Rehabilitation Services and Jeddah Charity Blood Bank.
The activities lined up for the programme included lectures and workshops on oral health promotion, dental check-ups and an entertainment programme.
An anti-smoking campaign targeting high school students in Jeddah was also organized under the supervision of Dr Dania Al-Ogaili with the purpose of familiarizing high school students in Jeddah with the harmful effects of smoking.
A new mobile dental clinic at a cost of over SR2 million donated by the Savola Group was also launched with the intention of promoting dental and oral health in the community. The project was supervised by Dr Salma Ba Hannan.
Also hosted were the first edition of TEDx exhibition and the ArtophliA 11.
A number of the Faculty's academic staff were also recognised during the year by international institutions for their significant academic and research contributions.
Honourees included Dr Ali Thafeed Al Ghamdi, an assistant professor and consultant in periodontics and implant dentistry and the Faculty's vice-Dean for postgraduate studies and scientific research, who was recognised by the State University of New York for his invaluable contribution to periodontics and implant dentistry.
Dr Fadia Al-Hummayani, of the Department of Preventive Dentistry, won the 3rd place of one of the seven categories of the Aesthetic Dentistry MENA Awards 2010 hosted by the Dubai-based Center for Advanced Professional Practices (CAAP) in conjunction with the Emirates Medical Association (EMA).
During the ceremony, high achievers were also recognised. The Best Department Award was given to the Oral Basic & Clinical Sciences Department. The Best Researcher Award was won by Dr Mohamed F. Ayad, of the Fixed Prosthodontics Division, while the Best Research Award went to Dr Mohammed S. Al-Zahrani.
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