- C405, Portland Square, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
- +44 1752 586808
- cathy.coelho@plymouth.ac.uk
Profiles
Professor Cathy Coelho
Professor of Dental Education
Peninsula Dental School (Faculty of Health)
Professor Cathy Coelho can be contacted through arrangement with our Press Office, to speak to the media on these areas of expertise.
- Enquiry based learning
- Dentistry
- Clinical education
- Equality and diversity
- Simulations
- Study skills
- Academic remediation
- Cohort studies
- Mixed-methods
- Observational methods
- Qualitative research
Email publicrelations@plymouth.ac.uk to enquire.
Biography
Biography
Cathy is a Professor of Dental Education and leads the state-of-the-art Simulated Dental Learning Environment at the University of Plymouth's Peninsula Dental School.
Cathy oversees undergraduate simulation teaching and assessment for all 5-years of the Dentistry BDS programme and 3-years of the Dental Therapy DTH programme. She is responsible for the University of Plymouth's 93 chair dental simulation facilities, with 68 "phantom heads" in Plymouth, 17 "phantom heads" in Exeter and 8 "phantom heads" in Truro. She leads the team of supervisors who teach in these facilities and supports the running of CPD and in-house training courses.
In 2020 Cathy was awarded a National Teaching Fellow, and in 2022 was nominated as an inspiring women on International Women’s Day.
Cathy chairs the University of Plymouth Faculty of Health's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committee, and is proud that under her leadership all six Schools in the Faculty of Health have been awarded Silver Athena Swan charters; recognition of work that supports females and gender equality.
Cathy is a member of the steering group for the UK and Eire Clinical Skills Collaboration Group and a committee member of Dental School’s Counsel Assessment Alliance.
Cathy is the Module Lead for the BDS programme’s Clinical Dental Practice 1-3 modules and DTH programme’s Clinical Dental Practice 1 and 2 modules. She has an interest in 3D printing and immersive technologies.
Cathy is the Module Lead for the BDS programme’s Clinical Dental Practice 1-3 modules and DTH programme’s Clinical Dental Practice 1 and 2 modules. She has an interest in 3D printing and immersive technologies.
Cathy's sustained track record of being an outstanding educator has been recognised over the years:
- in 2015 when she became a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- in 2016 when she was awarded an Early Career Educator Excellence in Teaching Award from the Association of Dental Education in Europe.
- in 2017 when she was awarded a Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence award by Advance HE.
- in 2020 when she was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship by Advance HE.
Cathy is a Mental Health first-aider, Disability Champion and mentor for academic promotions, HEA fellowship and alumni.
Cathy is the Safeguarding Lead and Designated Safeguarding Officer for Peninsula Dental School.
Cathy is the Safeguarding Lead and Designated Safeguarding Officer for Peninsula Dental School.
Equality is at the heart of everything Cathy does. She celebrate the richness that diversity offers, whilst recognising that at times some people need support to be included. She participates in various forums that raise Equality, Diversity and Inclusion matters:
- She is a founding and active member of the Peninsula Dental School’s Equality SAT
- She set up the Peninsula Dental School's Student Equality Champions Group
- She chairs the Faculty of Health’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee
- She sits on the University of Plymouth’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee
- She sits on the University of Plymouth's Athena SWAN Committee and is the Communications Lead for the Athena SWAN action plan
- Nationally she sits on the Strategic Oversight Group of the Diversity in Dentistry Action Group, part of The College of General Dentistry
As a dentist with 35+ years experience, she is passionate about educating dental clinicians for the future through passing on her skills, knowledge and by acting as a positive role model.
Qualifications
- BDS 1987
Masters in Clinical Education 2016.
Post-Graduate Certificate in Clinical Education 2013.
Post-Graduate Diploma in Clinical Education 2014.
Post-Graduate Certificate in Clinical Education 2013.
Post-Graduate Diploma in Clinical Education 2014.
Professional membership
General Dental Council Senior Fellow of HEA
Fellow of the Academy of Medical Educators
International Association for Dental Research
Association of Dental Education in Europe
Association of Dental Education in Europe Special Interest Groups: Dental Educators on the Move and 3D printing
British Society for Oral and Dental Research
Fellow of the Academy of Medical Educators
International Association for Dental Research
Association of Dental Education in Europe
Association of Dental Education in Europe Special Interest Groups: Dental Educators on the Move and 3D printing
British Society for Oral and Dental Research
Roles on external bodies
Strategic Oversight Group of the Diversity in Dentistry Action Group.
Steering group member of the UK and Eire Clinical Skills (Simulation) Collaboration
Committee member of Dental School’s Counsel Assessment Alliance
Steering group member of the UK and Eire Clinical Skills (Simulation) Collaboration
Committee member of Dental School’s Counsel Assessment Alliance
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
Cathy believes teaching should be engaging, active and thought provoking to be effective. Cathy has studied adult learning theories in the literature and uses evidence-based strategies to underpin her teaching style.
Cathy delivers a wide range of teaching within Peninsula Dental School, mainly based on simulation in clinical dentistry to both the Dentistry programme and the Dental Therapy and Hygiene programme.
Cathy is especially proud of the impact she has on students who are struggling to be successful, by designing and implementing an academic remediation process that has both short-term and long-term positive impacts on student outcomes.
Cathy delivers a wide range of teaching within Peninsula Dental School, mainly based on simulation in clinical dentistry to both the Dentistry programme and the Dental Therapy and Hygiene programme.
Cathy is especially proud of the impact she has on students who are struggling to be successful, by designing and implementing an academic remediation process that has both short-term and long-term positive impacts on student outcomes.
Research
Research
Research interests
Cathy's research is mainly educationally based around simulation in clinical dental education and equality. The dissertation for her Masters in Clinical Education used qualitative methodology to evaluate patient and student perceptions around patients giving feedback to dental students on their communication skills.
Grants & contracts
2023: Principal Investigator for a £28,500.00 grant from University of Plymouth R&D Solutions fund for “Training Teeth - 3D printed 'real feel' teeth for dentistry students” with business partner Mouse Designs Ltd
2023: Principal Investigator for a £8360 Proof of Concept fund from University of Plymouth for Dental digital teaching aids
2022: Grant from Health Education England South West Simulation Network to fund a project entitled "Dental Immersive Reality for healthcare teams: Development of a Mixed Reality training package to help healthcare teams identify common dental issues, to optimise patient care and appropriate referral pathways".
2014: University of Plymouth PedRIO grant
2014: University of Plymouth PedRIO grant
Publications
Publications
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
Journals
Articles
(2022) 'Ethnic diversity in academic dentistry in the United Kingdom' European Journal of Dental Education , DOI Open access
(2022) 'Dental education in primary care: 14 years of Peninsula Dental School' British Dental Journal 233, (3) 227-231 , DOI Open access
(2022) 'It is difficult to think about becoming what you have never seen”: Black students perceptions around a career in academic dentistry' British Dental Journal (BDJ) , DOI Open access
(2021) 'Addressing racial inequalities in dental education: decolonising the dental curricula' British Dental Journal 230, (3) 165-169 Publisher Site , DOI Open access
(2020) 'Students’ views on the sustained impact of a learning approach developed by blending pedagogy to prepare for professional practice: introducing ‘Daybook’' European Journal of Dental Education , DOI Open access
(2019) 'Effect of Constant versus Variable Small-Group Facilitators on Student Basic Science Knowledge in an Enquiry-Based Dental Curriculum' European Journal of Dental Education 0, (ja) , DOI Open access
(2019) 'To accept or decline academic remediation: What difference does it make?' Medical Teacher 0, 1-6 Publisher Site , DOI Open access
(2018) 'Sepsis: the applicability to dental care professionals' British Dental Journal 225, (12) 1078-1081 , DOI Open access
(2018) 'Prepared for practice and equipped for employment: what do dental foundation trainers think of their trainees?' British Dental Journal 225, (6) 549-555 , DOI Open access
(2018) 'Assisting communication in the dental setting: a student team working initiative with stroke patients' Journal of Disability and Oral Health 19, (1) , DOI Open access
(2017) 'Using patients as educators for communication skills: Exploring dental students' and patients' views' European Journal of Dental Education , DOI Open access
(2017) 'Academic performance of undergraduate dental students with learning disabilities' British Dental Journal 222, (3) 205-208 , DOI Open access
(2015) 'Student perceptions of a spiral curriculum' European Journal of Dental Education 20, (3) 161-166 , DOI Open access
(2014) 'Facilitating facilitators to facilitate in problem or enquiry based learning sessions' Journal of Problem Based Learning in Higher Education 2, (1)
Conference Papers
1. Short oral presentation and poster: C. Coelho; “A critical appraisal of the literature oncommunication skills training in dentistry” at 2015 international Associationfor Dental Education in Europe conference in Hungary.
2. Short oral presentation and poster: S. Hanks, C .Coelho, P. Schoenborn and R. Coster;“Dental Foundation Trainers’ (DFT) perception of the “Preparedness for Practice” of new dental graduates” at 2015 international Association for Dental Education in Europe conference in Hungary
3. Short oral presentation and poster: C .Coelho; “A qualitative study to explore the issues for patients when giving feedback on the communication skills of dental students”at 2015 British Society of Dental Research national conference in Cardiff, UK.
4. Short oral presentation and poster: C. Coelho; “Shifting academically failing or under-performing dental students to succeeding ones” at 2016 international Association for Dental Education in Europe conference in Barcelona.
5. Short oral presentation and poster; C. Coelho, S.Hanks; “Does science knowledge learnt in problem or enquiry-based learning sessions transfer to other learning spaces?” at 2016 international Association for Dental Education in Europe conference in Barcelona.
6.Short oral presentation and poster : S. Hanks, C. Coelho;“Evaluating the DayBook: Long Distance View of the Educational Impact of a Teaching and Learning Resource” at 2016 international Association for Dental Education in Europe conference in Barcelona.
7. Short oral presentation and e-poster: C. Coelho, P. Trimble and P. Ward: "Evaluation of inter-professional learning with dental and law students using problem-based learning methodology" at 2018 international Association for Dental Education in Europe conference in Oslo.
8. Poster: Collingwood, J and Coelho, C; “A 3D printed preclinical simulation training model to teach caries removal in Dentistry” at Health Education England 2019 Simulation, Innovation & Patient Safety Conference - Achieving Excellence in Healthcare.
9. Poster: Kelly, A., Coelho, C. and Hanks, S. “Connecting the Strands - Feedback Enhances Undergraduate Dental Education across Healthcare Boundaries” at Health Education England 2021 Sharing Good Practice Conference.
2. Short oral presentation and poster: S. Hanks, C .Coelho, P. Schoenborn and R. Coster;“Dental Foundation Trainers’ (DFT) perception of the “Preparedness for Practice” of new dental graduates” at 2015 international Association for Dental Education in Europe conference in Hungary
3. Short oral presentation and poster: C .Coelho; “A qualitative study to explore the issues for patients when giving feedback on the communication skills of dental students”at 2015 British Society of Dental Research national conference in Cardiff, UK.
4. Short oral presentation and poster: C. Coelho; “Shifting academically failing or under-performing dental students to succeeding ones” at 2016 international Association for Dental Education in Europe conference in Barcelona.
5. Short oral presentation and poster; C. Coelho, S.Hanks; “Does science knowledge learnt in problem or enquiry-based learning sessions transfer to other learning spaces?” at 2016 international Association for Dental Education in Europe conference in Barcelona.
6.Short oral presentation and poster : S. Hanks, C. Coelho;“Evaluating the DayBook: Long Distance View of the Educational Impact of a Teaching and Learning Resource” at 2016 international Association for Dental Education in Europe conference in Barcelona.
7. Short oral presentation and e-poster: C. Coelho, P. Trimble and P. Ward: "Evaluation of inter-professional learning with dental and law students using problem-based learning methodology" at 2018 international Association for Dental Education in Europe conference in Oslo.
8. Poster: Collingwood, J and Coelho, C; “A 3D printed preclinical simulation training model to teach caries removal in Dentistry” at Health Education England 2019 Simulation, Innovation & Patient Safety Conference - Achieving Excellence in Healthcare.
9. Poster: Kelly, A., Coelho, C. and Hanks, S. “Connecting the Strands - Feedback Enhances Undergraduate Dental Education across Healthcare Boundaries” at Health Education England 2021 Sharing Good Practice Conference.
10. Oral presentation and e-poster: Brookes, Z., Gilbert, K., Harrop, T., Oblensky, L., Nduwayezuk, R., Moffat, M., Coelho, C, & Gatarayiha, A. “Enquiry based global learning: Plymouth-Rwanda interdisciplinary experience with medics, dentists and dental hygiene therapists” at 2022 international Association for Dental Education in Europe conference in Palma, Majorca.
11. Oral presentation and e-poster: Coelho, C. “Empowering students to bring about change in Equality and Diversity matters that concern them; Student Equality Champions” at 2022 international Association for Dental Education in Europe conference in Palma, Majorca.
12. Oral presentation and poster: Coelho, C., Hanks, S. & Ainslie, J. “Dental Immersive Reality for healthcare teams: Development of a Mixed Reality training package to help healthcare teams identify common dental issues, to optimise patient care and appropriate referral pathways” at Health Education England – The South West Multi-professional Educational Conference. Taunton, UK, October 2022.
13. Oral presentation and poster: Onwudiwe,F., Ukoha, O., Hanks, S., Ranuata, A., Coelho, C., Donos, N., Onamusi, V., Robertson, A., Monk, J., Kadiyo, T., Osunkoya, M.T., Amanfu, A., Anim-Somuah, N., Shitta-bey, K., Elango, N., Ogunleye, R. & Asaolu, O. “Bringing together Black students from two different dental schools to explore their perceptions and perceived barriers to careers in Dentistry” at British Alliance of Research in Dental Education and Scholarship conference, Liverpool, UK, October 2022.
12. Oral presentation and poster: Coelho, C., Hanks, S. & Ainslie, J. “Dental Immersive Reality for healthcare teams: Development of a Mixed Reality training package to help healthcare teams identify common dental issues, to optimise patient care and appropriate referral pathways” at Health Education England – The South West Multi-professional Educational Conference. Taunton, UK, October 2022.
13. Oral presentation and poster: Onwudiwe,F., Ukoha, O., Hanks, S., Ranuata, A., Coelho, C., Donos, N., Onamusi, V., Robertson, A., Monk, J., Kadiyo, T., Osunkoya, M.T., Amanfu, A., Anim-Somuah, N., Shitta-bey, K., Elango, N., Ogunleye, R. & Asaolu, O. “Bringing together Black students from two different dental schools to explore their perceptions and perceived barriers to careers in Dentistry” at British Alliance of Research in Dental Education and Scholarship conference, Liverpool, UK, October 2022.
14. Oral presentation: Coelho, C & Hanks, S. Dental Immersive Reality for Healthcare Teams: Development of a Mixed Reality training package to help healthcare teams identify common dental issues, to optimise patient care and appropriate referrals. 9th International Clinical Skills Conference 2023 in Prato, Italy.
Presentations and posters
1. Poster: C.Coelhoand S. Hanks; Closing the loop on feedback – using student voice to enhance student experience. At Vice Chancellor’s Teaching and Learning Conference, Plymouth University, 28th June 2013.
2. Poster: C.Coelhoand S. Hanks; Pioneering near peer learning events to empower student development towards employment. At Vice Chancellor’s Teaching and Learning Conference, Plymouth University, 27th June 2014.
3. Poster: C.Coelho, S. Hanks and P, Schoenborn; What do dental trainers think of the preparedness for practice of dental graduates? At PedRIO Annual Conference 17th April 2015.
4. Poster: C. Coelho: Student led plenaries. At 2015 PUPSMD Education Conference, April 2015.
5. 22. Poster: J. Collingwood and C Coelho; “A 3D printed preclinical simulation training model to teach caries removal in Dentistry” at Health Education England Simulation, Innovation & Patient Safety Conference - Achieving Excellence in Healthcare, October 2019.
2. Poster: C.Coelhoand S. Hanks; Pioneering near peer learning events to empower student development towards employment. At Vice Chancellor’s Teaching and Learning Conference, Plymouth University, 27th June 2014.
3. Poster: C.Coelho, S. Hanks and P, Schoenborn; What do dental trainers think of the preparedness for practice of dental graduates? At PedRIO Annual Conference 17th April 2015.
4. Poster: C. Coelho: Student led plenaries. At 2015 PUPSMD Education Conference, April 2015.
5. 22. Poster: J. Collingwood and C Coelho; “A 3D printed preclinical simulation training model to teach caries removal in Dentistry” at Health Education England Simulation, Innovation & Patient Safety Conference - Achieving Excellence in Healthcare, October 2019.
Personal
Personal
Conferences organised
M2015 Education Conference for University of Plymouth Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Education conference
2018 Education Conference for University of Plymouth Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Education conference
Other academic activities
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Early Career Educator Excellence in Teaching Award from the Association of Dental Education in Europe.
Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence award by Advance HE.
National Teaching Fellowship by Advance HE.