Three educators and clinicians from Plymouth University Peninsula School of Dentistry have visited New York University College of Dentistry to exchange ideas and experiences of inter-professional learning – where students training to be dentists do so side-by-side with other dental professional students (such as dental nurses, dental therapists and hygienists) and other healthcare professionals such as nurses.

Clare McIlwaine and Jane Collingwood

Jane Collingwood and Clare McIlwaine went to New York University College of Dentistry thanks to a Santander Internationalisation Scholarship, a grant awarded to help build collaborative relationships for research, skill sharing and career development among Santander universities.

Their colleague Louise Belfield travelled separately and joined Jane and Clare at NYU to complete the multi-professional team and gained experience of integrating clinical and basic science education among multiple undergraduate programmes.

Both the University of Plymouth and New York University have renowned reputations for inter-professional learning. Plymouth leads the way in a completely new and innovative programme which trains future dentists and dental therapists and hygienists side-by-side from the very start of their programmes. Jane and Clare shared experiences and learned best practice with their colleagues in New York. They are hopeful that this visit will lead to joint projects in the future.