Go to content
  2. About us
  3. Our structure
  4. Representative committees
  5. Dental University Educators and Researchers

CCUDER discusses and decides on policy stances related to clinical dental academia as well as negotiating on pay and contracts, and terms and conditions with UCEA, in tandem with the BMA.

Our priorities 

  • Ensuring that the perspective and insights of dental academics are centred in the BDA’s response to the 2023 NHS Workforce plan
  • Attracting new dental school graduates to a career in dental academia by demystifying pathways into the profession
  • Promoting flexible career pathways
  • Protecting pay parity with NHS colleagues through honorary contract arrangements
  • Conducting inquiries regarding inequality within the dental academic profession
  • Providing evidence on dental academia to the Doctors and Dentists Pay Review Body through the BDA’s annual submission
  • Understanding and sharing knowledge regarding clinical academic pensions and the dental academic workforce.
Chair

James Field

James is a full-time Senior Lecturer in Restorative Dentistry, and an Honorary Consultant in Prosthodontics. He is currently the Director for Learning and Teaching at Cardiff Dental School. He has extensive experience with delivering innovative teaching in restorative dentistry. James holds a Master of Arts degree in Education and a National Teaching Fellowship. He is also a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Educators, and a Fellow of the Faculty of Dental Trainers.
James Field
Vice Chair

Shalini Kanagasingam

Shalini is a Specialist Endodontist and Senior Clinical Lecturer at the School of Dentistry, University of Central Lancashire. She is the Endodontic Lead for the postgraduate and undergraduate programmes. Shalini was awarded the ODRT OHI (PREVISER) AWARD in 2018 and the TCWhite Young Researcher's Grant in 2019 to support her research into oral biofilm and Alzheimer’s Disease.
Shalini Kanagasingam

Get involved and get in touch

The CCUDER is supported by Stuart Abrahams, Senior Policy Adviser for Employed Dentists, who can be contacted via email: [email protected], and Eleanor Day, Committee Secretary who can be contacted via email: [email protected]

Developing your skills

Have a look at our range of advice videos, including experiences from different careers and fields of dentistry, and tips for furthering your career.