Overview
The Dental Public Health SIG is a forum for professional exchange of knowledge within a multi-disciplinary context. Activities involve engagement in dental public health issues, research and career development. It further aims to create awareness of oral health issues in public health and to contribute to adding value to the public health system and oral health programmes in the country.
Our objectives are as follows:
- To contribute to the growth of the organization by encouraging the registration of oral health professionals into PHASA.
- To create awareness and advocate in public health issues affecting oral health.
- To contribute towards adding value to the public health system and oral health programs in the country.
- To work collectively in implementing measures of disease prevention and promotion for improving the overall health of our South African population.
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Dr. Khabiso J. Ramphoma
Dr. Khabiso J. Ramphoma obtained her degree in bachelor of dentistry 11 years ago and thereafter specialised in community dentistry (dental public health) in 2014 both from the University of the Western Cape, Cape Town South Africa. She is currently enrolled for MPhil in Heealth Professions Education with Stellenbosch University. Her academic career spans over eight years in both medical and dental schools. She currently holds a position of a Specialist in Community Dentistry at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University in Pretoria. Her responsibilities there are training, lecturing and supervision of postgraduate students undertaking diploma or master’s degree in dental public health and undergraduate Bachelor of Dental Sciences (BDS), Bachelor of Dental Therapy (BDT) and Bachelor of Oral Hygiene (BOH) students in dental public health.
Her research interests include epidemiology of oral lesions associated with HIV/AIDS, integration of basic oral health knowledge in the medical curricula and the use and misuse of antibiotics/opioids in dentistry. She has published in both national and international peer-reviewed journals.
She was recently appointed as one of the young professionals representing South Africa on the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) under the Oral Health Working Group. The purpose of this group is to promote and integrate oral health, whenever appropriate, in all public health policies within the WFPHA and its member organizations.
Organisation: University in Pretoria
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SIG Chair (Dental Public Health)
Khanyi Makwakwa
Khanyi Makwakwa is a dental professional who had begun her career as a Dental Therapist, she subsequently went on to complete a Bachelor of Dental Surgery, and a Post graduate diploma in clinical dentistry in 2008. Her work experience which spans over 20 years, includes working in the public, private and mining sectors. Working in these diverse sectors gave her insight into the challenges faced by dentists on a daily basis whilst attempting to deliver quality oral healthcare to their patients. Her passion and drive to be part of the solution to these challenges; and interest in oral health advocacy prompted her to complete a Master’s in Public Health.
She is now currently a Community Dentistry Registrar at the Sefako Makgatho University.
Organisation: Sefako Makgatho University
SIG Secretary (Dental Public Health)
Dr. Lesley Machete
Dr. Lesley Machete qualified as a dentist in 2007 from the University of Limpopo, Medunsa Campus, now known as Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University. Subsequent to that, he has largely been employed in the public sector until 2014 when he joined the Department of Community Dentistry, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, School of Oral Health Sciences as a dental academic. His responsibilities include lecturing, training, and supervision of postgraduate students undertaking diploma in dental public health and undergraduate Bachelor of Dental Sciences (BDS), Bachelor of Dental Therapy (BDT) and Bachelor of Oral Hygiene (BOH) students in dental public health.
He is also a dental public health projects coordinator for undergraduate Bachelor of Dental Sciences (BDS), Bachelor of Dental Therapy (BDT) and Bachelor of Oral Hygiene (BOH)students in dental public health.
He is currently completing his Master of Dental Sciences in Dental Public Health. His research interests include service learning, dental public health and health systems functioning
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PHASA Admin
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