- Event
- Expressions Winter 2024
Course Taster at Summer Academy
Secondary school pupils successfully complete Faculty summer school programme
Professor Alice Chan instructs a student on performing a dental filling.
After a competitive application process, the HKU Faculty of Dentistry welcomed around 100 secondary school pupils to participate in the HKU Dentistry Academy for the Talented from 5 to 6 August 2024. The two-day summer school programme was designed to inform and inspire school students interested in pursuing a dental career by providing them with an opportunity to sample elements of the HKU Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) course.
To introduce the audience to dental science and the dental profession, Faculty academic staff delivered three engaging lectures: “Keep your teeth healthy like a dentist”, “Before dentistry, beyond dentistry”, and “You are ready for dentistry”. Following guided tours of the Prince Philip Dental Hospital, hands-on interactive workshops offered simulation training in using an intraoral digital scanner, taking dental x-rays, performing fillings, making dental casts, and surgical stitching.
Professor Mike Leung teaches participants the basic skills of stitching.
In addition, participants engaged in small-group problem-based learning (PBL) sessions facilitated by current BDS students, allowing them to discuss various dental topics and hone their knowledge using realistic practical scenarios. PBL is a key feature of the dental curriculum at HKU, being an educational approach that emphasises active learning through problem-solving and critical thinking — essential skills that dental students need to develop for their future careers.
The summer academy provided valuable insights into the field of oral health and a taste of life as an HKU BDS student. Participants said they enjoyed the blend of educational experiences, practical exercises, and open dialogue, leaving them eager and motivated to deepen their understanding of dentistry. The Faculty looks forward to welcoming some of these talented students in future academic years.
Professor Walter Lam advises students on making a dental cast.
Vicky Lam, BDS student (right), demonstrates a procedure to a participant in a hands-on workshop in the Simulation Laboratory.
Students gain experience taking mock dental x-rays.
In the problem-based learning session, participants engage in discussions on various dental topics.
Participants acquire practical skills in the dental preparation laboratory.
Faculty and participants of the HKU Dentistry Academy for the Talented.
The Faculty thanks the following staff for delivering inspiring lectures and workshops as part of the HKU Dentistry Academy for the Talented
- Professor Mike Leung, Associate Dean (Alumni and External Affairs), Admissions Tutor, and Clinical Professor in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
- Professor James Tsoi, Assistant Dean (Innovation) and Associate Professor in Dental Materials Science
- Professor Alice Chan, Clinical Assistant Professor in Cariology
- Professor Walter Lam, Clinical Assistant Professor in Prosthodontics
- Professor Sang Jin Lee, Assistant Professor in Biofunctional Materials
- Dr Andy Yeung, Tutor in Radiography
- Dr Dave Chan, Honorary Clinical Assistant Professor in Periodontology & Implant Dentistry, and Chairperson of the HKU Dental Alumni Association
- Dr John Yau, Honorary Clinical Assistant Professor in Paediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
- Dr Adrian Hon, Part-time Clinical Lecturer in Prosthodontics