Christopher Vernazza
NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer

  • Email: christopher.vernazza@ncl.ac.uk
  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 222 8396
  • Address: Child Dental Health
    School of Dental Sciences
    Framlington Place
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE2 4BW

Introduction

I am an NIHR academic clinical lecturer in Paediatric Dentistry undertaking clinical specialty training and researching in the field of health services research, specifically in the application of health economics to dentistry. I am also involved in teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. 

Roles and Responsibilities

Course leader, BDS Stage 3 Paediatric Dentistry
Member, BDS Stage 3 (part 2) Board of examiners
Member, BDS Stage 2 (part 2) Board of examiners
Member, BDS Stage 3 Staff student committee
Member, BDS Admissions Panel
Member, Dental eportfolio working group
Previously Member, Northern Deanery Foundation Programme/Undergraduate Interface Group         Member of Centre for Oral Health Research Working Group on Research Culture                                        Chair, Recruitment of paediatric patients for BDS and Hygiene Therapy Working Group
Member, Curriculum Committee, MSc in Conscious Sedation in Dentistry
Chair, British Society of Paediatric Dentistry 2012 National Conference Organising Committee            Member, National Council, British Society of Paediatric Dentistry                                                         Reviewer for:

  • International Endodontic Journal
  • Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology
  • Community Dental Health
  • NIHR Programme Grants 

Qualifications

Bachelor of Dental Surgery (Sheffield, 2004)
Member of Faculty of Dental Surgery (Edinburgh, 2006)
Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (Newcastle, 2008)
Fellow of Higher Education Academy (2009)
PhD (Newcastle, 2011)

Previous Positions

General Professional Trainee - Newcastle Dental Hospital and Dental Practice in Gateshead 2004-6
Clinical Fellow in Child Dental Health - Newcastle University 2006-11

Memberships

British Society of Paediatric Dentistry
British Dental Association
North of England Odontological Society
Faculty of Dental Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh)
Higher Education Academy
International Association of Dental Research

Informal Interests

Singing with various groups including the Northern Sinfonia Chorus
Youth volunteer work as a trustee and leader with Oakley Holidays 

Research Interests

My main interest is in applying economic evaluation techniques to dental treatments and the study of decision making in oral health. This involves a variety of work across a wide range of dental disciplines, although the work is concentrated around replacements for missing teeth, root canal treatment (endodontics), periodontal treatment and preventive care. In particular, my work is focussed on applying preference based valuations to dental health and using one such measure, willingness to pay (WTP) in the dental context.

Other Expertise

I also have an interest in the use of electronic portfolios in professional development.

Research Roles

Member of Centre for Oral Health Research Working Group on Research Culture

Reviewer for:

  • International Endodontic Journal
  • Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology
  • Community Dental Health
  • NIHR Programme Grants 

Postgraduate Supervision

Supervising two MSc projects

Industrial Relevance

Economic evaluations are becoming increasingly important for both public and private providers and commissioners of dental care. Additionally, we are working with developers of new dental technologies in carrying out economic evaluations of emerging treatments.  

Undergraduate Teaching

I am course leader for Year 3 - Paediatric Dentistry on the Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree programme.
I am also involved with clinical, small group and lecture based teaching as well as assessment and examination in the following areas:
BDS, Introduction to Dentistry - Year 1
BDS, Key Clinical Skills - Year 2
BDS, Paediatric Dentistry - Years 3-5
In addition, I am personal tutor to several dental students and a member of the BDS admissions panel.

Postgraduate Teaching

Teacher on Dental Concious Sedation MSc
Teaching of recently graduated dentists (FP2 scheme) in preparation for Royal College examinations.