BIOSKETCH
Ms Bissoon graduated with a Bachelor of Oral Health in 1993 from The University of Durban Westville. She worked for approximately 4 years where she gained clinical experience in her profession.  She returned full-time to university and graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Therapy in 2000. Hence, she currently holds two individual registrations with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), firstly as an oral hygienist (OH0009393) and secondly as a dental therapist (TT0005320). She has extensive clinical practice experience of more than 25 years , as I was employed at a private dental practice fulfilling my roles as both  an oral hygienist and a dental therapist.In 2017, she graduated with a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health. This allowed her the opportunity to join the university as a clinical supervisor for the Radiology module.In 2021, she graduated with a Masters in Medical Sciences focusing on Dentistry. My thesis was based on dental amalgam training in a dental school in Kwa-Zulu Natal. This topic attracted immense interest and is current and relevant to the teaching and training at dental schools. This study aimed to inform the dental curriculum in the Restorative Dentistry module. The study generated two articles that were accepted by and published in the SADJ. This research was presented at an international dental conference.Currently she serves as an external examiner for SMU in the Oral Medicine module. She has been selected to audit the oral hygiene programme at University of Pretoria in 2024 with HPCSA. She has also been elected as the KZN chairperson of OHASA from 2025 until 2027.She has registered for my PHD in 2024. Her research topic is based on Sustainable Dentistry and the impact on the environment. The aim of this study is to investigate the compliance and sustainability practices of dental schools in South Africa. This topic is of special interest as the effect of climate change is being experienced globally. Once the study identifies current practice, recommendations and protocols will be developed to modify the dental practice management and function in a more environmentally acceptable manner.