Health Economics for Oral Health
Newcastle Launches Innovative Short Course in Health Economics for Oral Health
21 September 2026
Newcastle University’s School of Dental Sciences has successfully delivered the first iteration of its new Health Economics in Oral Health short course.
Led by Dr Helen Rogers and Dr Katherine Carr, the course is delivered by clinical academics and health economists from Newcastle University. It draws on the team's recognised expertise in a field that remains relatively novel within oral health research internationally but is attracting increasing interest and importance.
Designed specifically for beginners, the three-day course welcomed 13 delegates from a diverse range of backgrounds including professionals from Dental Public Health, Paediatric Dentistry, Oral Surgery and Restorative Dentistry from the UK and overseas.
Reflecting on the motivation behind developing the course, Dr Rogers said:
“My background is in dentistry, but when I began my research career, I quickly became interested in health economics. I searched for a course that could explain the core concepts in language that I could understand as a clinician, while also recognising the nuances specific to oral health research. There simply wasn’t anything available. A decade later, that gap still existed, so Katherine and I decided to create the course ourselves.”
The programme covered the foundations of economics and health economics, including key concepts in economic evaluation and priority setting within oral healthcare. While some delegates attended to develop a better understanding of the topic, others were seeking the knowledge and skills needed to support future research projects involving health economics.
The course received overwhelmingly positive feedback, achieving a 5/5 satisfaction score. Participants praised the expertise and approachability of the teaching team, with one delegate commenting: “Facilitators were knowledgeable, encouraged discussions, made the sessions interesting and made the course apt for a beginner in health economics.” Another participant highlighted the course format, describing it as having “excellent presenters” and “a great balance of exercise and lectures.”
Dr Carr said:
“It was fantastic to see participants engaging with concepts that are often perceived as complex and applying them to their own areas of practice and research. We hope the course has given delegates the confidence to critically evaluate evidence and incorporate health economics into their future work.”
The next Health Economics in Oral Health short course will take place from 4–6 October 2027. Those interested in attending are encouraged to register for further information. Register below.