Associate Professor

I am an Associate Professor and Lead for the Health Education Portfolio, part of the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Education.

My role is to offer academic leadership and support related to a range of courses in Pre-Professional and Continuing Health Education including; Advanced Nursing Practice, Nursing Associates, short courses in health systems as well as Medical & Dental Education and Dental Law and Ethics.

Before joining the University of Bedfordshire, I taught both undergraduates and postgraduates students at Barts and the London, School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary - University of London.

I am a Senior Fellow of The Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), a Fellow of the College of General Dentistry (FCGDent), an accredited mentor and a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership (FIoL), a member of the editorial board of The Dentist & Dental Nursing Magazines and a member of the Clinical Ethics Committee at Luton and Dunstable Hospital.

Other References

• dentalmentorsuk.com
• LinkedIn profile

Qualifications

• PhD - Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London, May 2008
• M.Clin.Dent - Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London, September 2000
• MA - Education – University of Bedfordshire, 2016
• BDS - Cairo University, Egypt, June 1995

Teaching Role

I lead the MA Dental Law and Ethics course teaching on Ethical Dental Practice and Regulating The Dental Team units. Additionally, I lead the Medical/Dental Education courses including the MA research unit covering all aspects of qualitative research methods and aspects of clinical education in practice. I also supervise both MA and PhD research students.

Research Interests

My research interest has varied between education, dental development and research methods and I led successful research projects in both qualitative and quantitative paradigms. My latest research project focused on exploring the use of optional online journal as a reflection tool. I am also interested in research ethics, culture and holistic approach in healthcare as well as creative research methodology.

Some of my latest work focused on investigating research methods at times of crises (Kara and Khoo, 2021) where I co-authored a chapter on the use of objects to enhance online social research interviews. Examples of my research activities are included in the publication section below.

Service to the Academic/Professional Community

• Co-Lead of the Faculty of Research and Knowledge Exchange - Buckinghamshire Health and Social Care Academy
• A Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
• A Fellow of the College of General Dentistry (FCGDent)
• A Fellow of the Institute of Leadership (FIoL)
• An accredited mentor at the Institute of Leadership
• A member of The Association of Dental Educators in Europe (ADEE)
• A member of the Clinical Ethics Committee at Luton & Dunstable hospital
• Member of the editorial board of The Dentist & Dental Nursing Magazines
• Member of the British Dental Journal Insights Writers group

Recent Publications and Presentations

Chapters in edited books

• Zakher, M. and Wassif, H. S.(2021) The use of objects to enhance online social research interviews. In Kara, H. and Khoo, S. M. (eds.) Qualitative and Digital Research in Times of Crisis: Methods, Reflexivity and Ethics: University of Bristol: Policy Press.
• Wassif, H. S.and Zakher, M. (2019) Teaching and Learning Inside the Culture Shoe Box, in James, A. and Nerantzi, C. (eds.)The Power of Play in HE: Creativity in Tertiary Learning, London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Peer Reviewed Publications

• Wassif, H. S. (2024) I reflect, therefore I am!, Exploring the Use of a Voluntary Online Reflective Journal as a Learning Tool Among Postgraduate Dental Students. European Journal of Dental Education DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eje.13029
• Wassif, H. S. and Wake, C. (2022) Mentoring at times of crises, Personal reflections on mentoring relationships during Covid19. European Journal of Dental Education DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eje.12804
• Hayer, N. and Wassif, H. S. (2021) General Dental Practitioners’ perception of shared decision making, a qualitative study. British Dental Journal (In press)
• Thakrar, B. and Wassif, H. S. (2020) Exploring how newly qualified dentists perceive certain legal and ethical issues in view of the GDC standards. British Dental Journal, DOI doi.org/10.1038/s41415-021-2715-7
• Hayer, N. and Wassif, H. S. (2019) A lonely Business…Reflections on well-being and the morale of dental teams. British Dental Journal, 226, pages559–561.
• Sellars S. and Wassif H. S. (2019) Is Dentistry the orphaned field of medicine? Ethical consideration for Evidence Based Dentistry. British Dental Journal, 226, 177–179.
• Knott, P. N. and Wassif, H. S. (2018) Older and Wiser? First Year BDS Graduate Entry Students and Their Views on Using Social Media and Professional Practice. British Dental Journal, 225, 437 - 440.
• Wassif, H. S. and L. D'Cruz (2017) How the vision of a clinician and an educator brought the MA Dental Law and Ethics course to life. British Dental Journal, 223, 447 - 449.
• Brown, T., Wassif, H. S. (2017) Understanding Continuous Professional Development participation and choice of mid-career General Dental Practitioners. European Journal of Dental Education, 21(1):46-51
• Wassif, H. S. (2015) Perception of studying dental law and ethics among postgraduate dental students in the UK. British Dental Journal, 219, 131 – 134.
• Wassif, H. S. (2014) Supporting Medical and Dental International Students Studying in the UK: A Personal Perspective. Journal of US-China Education Review B, 4 (10), 758-761.

Contribution to Professional Magazines

• Wassif, H. S. (2024) All I want for Christmas, Human connection in dental practice. Dental Nursing, Dec (in press)
• Wassif, H. S. (2024) Exploring the role of postgraduate foundation training in advancing dental therapist careers. Br Dent J237, 552. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-024-7960-0 (Research insight)
• Wassif, H. S. (2024) Saving the world, one dental practice at a time. Br Dent J 236, 189. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-024-7072-x (Research insight)
• Wassif, H. S. (2023) Change is in the air! Understanding change management in Dental Practice. Dental Nursing, Nov. https://doi.org/10.12968/denn.2023.19.11.554
• Wassif, H. S. (2023) Embracing Flexibility and Connectivity: Breaking Free from the Agenda Trap. Dental Nursing, Oct, 482 - 483.
• Wassif, H. S. (2022) Exploring the gift of feedback. Dental Nursing, Dec, 606 – 608.
• Wassif, H.S. and Zakher, M (2021) Logging on, checking in…expressing digital care and learning routine as part of online teaching. Creative Academic Magazine, www.creativeacademic.uk, Cam19 - 45-47
• Wassif, H. S. (2020) A listening project, Dentistry Style. Oral Health (5) 26 - 27
• Wassif, H. S. (2018) Licence to communicate. Oral Health, Oct, 24 -25.
• Wassif, H. S. (2018) Getting to know you, reflections on treating those with whom you may disagree. The Dentist, Oct, 18 - 20.
• Wassif, H. S. and Wake, C. (2017) Caring when no one is watching. Oral Health, Dec, 25 - 26.
• Wake, C. and H. S. Wassif (2017) Paternalism in Practice. Oral Health, Oct, 50 - 52.
• Wassif, H. S. (2016) Confidence in Confidentiality. Dental Nursing, 12 (2), 70.

Contribution to National and International Conferences

• Wassif, H. S. (2024) Bridging the Gap:
  Global Health Challenges, Inequities, and Their Impact on Nursing Education and Research. International Nursing Conference - Istanbul, Aydin University - Turkey.
• Wassif, H. S. (2024) Exploring the use of digital flipchart as a flexible tool to enhance learner engagement and participation in Medical & Dental Education. Academy of Medical Educators (AoME) Science and Technology in Healthcare Practice: Futures in Medical Education – Birmingham UK.
• Wassif, H. S. (2023) I reflect, therefore I am! Exploring the use of an optional online reflective journal as a learning tool among PG healthcare students. Advance HE NETworking & Innovation in Healthcare Conference - Liverpool UK.
• Wassif, H. S. (2023) Ready, Steady, Mentor… Effective use of the 3-box memory model in mentoring practice – Dental Mentors UK group – (online)
• Wassif, H. S. (2022) Translation of research interviews: Do we have a problem with qualitative rigor? – International Conference of Nursing, Istanbul University – Turkey (online)
• Wassif, H. S. (2022) Caught or taught, Professionalism in Dental Practice. Health Education England - Dental Educational Supervisors - May 2022 (online)
• Zakher, M and Wassif, H. S. (2022) Enhanced Interviewing in Qualitative Research. Methods@Manchester - June 2022 (online)
• Thakrar, B. and Wassif, H. S. (2019) “How newly qualified dentist perceive certain legal and ethical issues in view of the GDC standards and how they feel it influences their daily practice? – BDIA-Dental Showcase, Birmingham, UK.
• Wassif, H. S. (2018) Perception of using Culture Shoebox as an educational tool in teaching ethics and culture among postgraduate students studying dental law and ethics. Association of Dental Education in Europe - Oslo - Norway.
• Wassif, H. S. (2018) More than a skin deep, Culture sensitive mentorship. Presentation at the BDA Dental Coaching Academy Conference: Mentoring. London, UK.
• Wassif, H. S. (2016) Two birds, one stone…Using Podcasts as Assessment & Learning Tools in Dental Education. Presentation at the European Board of Medical Assessment Conference, Exeter, UK.
• Wassif, H. S. (2016) Culture issues… a make or break for dental practices. Presentation at the British Dental Association Conference, Manchester, UK.
• Wassif, H. S. (2016) It is only a job! Ethics in professional dental practice. Presentation at the Dental Foundation Training Programme Directors Conference, Manchester, UK.
• Wassif, H. S. (2015) Qualitative Research Methods Course. Two days course, Nursing Faculty, Koc University, Istanbul - Turkey.
• Wassif, H. S., Zakher, M. (2015) Ditching technology and thinking inside the box...the culture shoebox. A new innovative teaching resource. Presentation at the Higher Education Academy conference, Manchester, UK.
• Wassif, H. S. D'Cruz, L. Morrise, C. (2014) A postgraduate certificate in Dental Law and Ethics, First in the UK for dental professionals. Poster Presentation for the Higher Education Academy. Aston University, UK
• Wassif, H. S. (2014) Developing as a Dental Educator. Presentation at the British Dental Association Conference. Manchester, UK.
• Wassif, H. S. (2012) Improving dental students' clinical skills. The Learning Institute – Queen Mary University of London.
• Wassif, H. S. (2012), Research Ethics. The 1^st International Clinical Nursing Research Congress. Convention Centre, Izmir - Turkey.
• Wassif, H. S. (2012), Qualitative Research Methods Course. Three days course, Dokuz Eylul University, Nursing Faculty, Izmir - Turkey.

Contact Details

E: hoda.wassif@beds.ac.uk
Twitter: @hodawassif