Voices Magazine-Vol4-Issue

5 January – April 2021 | VOICES Bi-Monthly Magazine of the University of Technology, Jamaica O utstanding Dental Hygiene student in the College of Oral Health Sciences, Miss Shenece Watson has been specially recognized for her exceptional performance in recent examinations administered by the College. Miss Watson’s achievement was celebrated in a ceremony hosted by Acting President, University of Technology, Jamaica, Professor Colin Gyles and Dean of the Joint Colleges of Medicine, Oral Health and Veterinary Sciences, Dr. Mark Edwards on April 21, 2021 at the Papine Campus. Dr. Edwards explained that resulting from challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, including nationwide curfews/lockdowns, financial issues and patients not showing up for clinical sessions, students in the Joint Colleges faced many challenges during the last Semester, in completing course requirements and clinical requirements, while some failed courses. “As such we introduced the Observable Simulated Clinical Examination (OSCE), for students with issues related to missing grades,” he advised. OSCE is an objective structured clinical examination often used in health sciences. It is designed to test clinical skill performance and competence in a range of skills. It is a practical, real-world approach to learning and assessment, utilizing content and scoring procedures that are standardized. Dr. Edwards noted that the examination format which was introduced for the first time at the College of Oral Health Sciences saw students being brought to the classroom for a face-to-face projected Power Point Presentation with accompanying questions for which they were required to prepare written answers. The students had no prior knowledge of the format, style or the content for which to prepare. The questions he noted were based on general aspects of clinical practice. It is in this context that Dean Edwards noted the remarkable performance by Miss Watson who scored 93.3% on the examination and further distinguished herself in the quality of her written answers. Heartily congratulatingMissWatson on her remarkable performance, Professor Gyles expressed confidence in her further achievement of excellence in the successful completion of her course of study and graduation. He encouraged her to maintain the spirit of excellence, creativity and adaptability undergirded by the University’s Core Values in her sojourn and career. Professor Gyles also expressed words of commendation to the student’s mother, Mrs. Maud Watson who travelled from Trelawny to participate in the special presentation. He also congratulated Dr. Edwards for ensuring that scholarship and excellence in the College are rewarded and for “the innovation in adapting the curriculum to have an examination like this that is suited for the circumstances in which we are functioning, but which allows students to demonstrate their capabilities within an environment that they have had to adapt to.” The Acting President, in addition, commended Programme Director of the BSc in Dental Hygiene Programme, Ms Shulan Allen for her leadership, adding that the recognition of student achievement will serve to motivate others in the pursuit of scholarship and excellence at the University. Miss Shenece Waston (centre), 3rd year BSc in Dental Hygiene student, College of Oral Health Sciences accepts a token from Professor Colin Gyles in recognition of her outstanding performance in the OSCE examination administered by the College in Semester 1, Academic Year 2020-2021. Sharing in the happy occasion held at the UTech, Jamaica Papine Campus on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 from left are, Dr. Mark Edwards, Dean, Joint Colleges of Medicine, Oral Health and Veterinary Sciences, Mrs. Maud Watson, mother of Shanice and Ms. Shulan Allen, Programme Director, BSc in Dental Hygiene, College of Oral Health Sciences. College of Oral Health Sciences Recognizes Outstanding Student Performance in OSCE Examination