Dr Isabelle Cunningham
BDS, FRD RCS, MA (Education), SFHEA
Expertise
Isabelle is a Senior Clinical Lecturer, co-programme director for the dental undergraduate programme and deputy School Education Director. She is also undertaking a Education Doctorate with Bristol School of Education.
Current positions
Associate Professor in Dental Education
Bristol Dental School
Contact
Press and media
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Biography
Isabelle graduated from Cardiff Dental School in 1991. She undertook various hospital, practice and community posts in South Wales and Nottingham, completing her FDS RCS (Edin) in 1994. She commenced a career in dental education in 1999 as Clinical Lecturer at Cardiff Dental School, primarily teaching within the DCP programmes. She achieved an MA in Medical Education in 2007 and progressed to the post of Deputy DCP Programme Director.
Isabelle joined Bristol Dental School in July 2016, becoming Deputy Director of Education, then Chair of the Dental Teaching Committee in 2018. She has set up an Educational Journal Club within the School and is keen to actively support teaching staff with their educational development. In additional to her restorative teaching commitments, she worked closely with the School Education Director and Head of School in planning the School’s new curriculum BDS21 which launched in 2019. In 2019 she became co-Programme Director for BDS21.
She was awarded Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy in 2018 and is currently undertaking a part-time Doctorate in Education at Bristol School of Education.
Isabelle has particular interests in teachers’ educational beliefs and values, dental team working, the early student learner, peer review of teaching, and curriculum development with presentations and publications in these areas.
Isabelle joined Bristol Dental School in July 2016, becoming Deputy Director of Education, then Chair of the Dental Teaching Committee in 2018. She has set up an Educational Journal Club within the School and is keen to actively support teaching staff with their educational development. In additional to her restorative teaching commitments, she worked closely with the School Education Director and Head of School in planning the School’s new curriculum BDS21 which launched in 2019. In 2019 she became co-Programme Director for BDS21.
She was awarded Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy in 2018 and is currently undertaking a part-time Doctorate in Education at Bristol School of Education.
Isabelle has particular interests in teachers’ educational beliefs and values, dental team working, the early student learner, peer review of teaching, and curriculum development with presentations and publications in these areas.
Research interests
Peer review of teaching, teacher development, teacher educational beliefs and values, curriculum development, contemporary dental student professionalism
Publications
Recent publications
26/04/2024Contemporary dental student professionalism
British Dental Journal
'They're Not Professional These Days': exploring contemporary student professionalism challenges in the clinical workplace
A Review of the Special Care Dentistry Undergraduate Curriculum and Recommendations
Journal of Disability and Oral Health
Leading Dental School Curriculum Change: perspectives from theory & practice
Implementing peer review of teaching
British Dental Journal
Teaching
Isabelle has been involved in dental education for 24 years, both with student dentists and dental care professionals. She has extensive experience of clinical supervision, small and large group teaching - both face-to-face and on-line. She has developed and led a number of undergraduate programmes and modules, in particular supporting the transition of students from the pre-clinical to clinical environment.
She has been extensively involved in a major curriculum review initiative, leading the change process through a number of committees and informal and formal collaborations. As Year 2 lead for the BDS programme, co-programme lead and Deputy Education Director she is heavily involved in the ongoing leadership and development of the undergraduate dental programmes.
She has been extensively involved in a major curriculum review initiative, leading the change process through a number of committees and informal and formal collaborations. As Year 2 lead for the BDS programme, co-programme lead and Deputy Education Director she is heavily involved in the ongoing leadership and development of the undergraduate dental programmes.
