23 September 2025
FoDOCS Clinical Teacher Wins International Travel Award for Dental Hygiene Scholarship
Dr Claire McCarthy, Dental Hygienist and Clinical Teacher at King’s College London’s Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences (FoDOCS), has been awarded an International Travel Award by the National Conference of University Professors (NCUP)—a first for the faculty.
This competitive accolade recognises Dr McCarthy’s outstanding contribution to academic scholarship and professional practice in dental education. The award enabled her participation in the prestigious Anglo-Italian Colloquium, an invitation-only academic conference held in collaboration with the University of Brescia. The colloquium serves as a respected international forum for cross-disciplinary dialogue in the health sciences.
Dr McCarthy presented her research titled “The Use of AI to Create Resources to Support Oral Hygiene Education in the Undergraduate Curriculum: A Pedagogical Perspective”. Her session explored how artificial intelligence can be harnessed to develop targeted teaching resources that enhance students’ ability to deliver oral hygiene advice effectively—ultimately aiming to improve patient engagement and support long-term behaviour change.
In addition to presenting, Dr McCarthy co-chaired an international working group on “AI in Teaching, Learning & Research”, collaborating with senior academics and emeritus students from across the globe. The group examined pedagogical shifts, digital readiness, institutional training, and the barriers and enablers to integrating AI in higher education. Their findings will be published as part of the colloquium’s wider academic output.
As part of the award, Dr McCarthy was also invited to a formal luncheon at the House of Lords in May, where she was officially presented with her award in recognition of her achievements.
Reflecting on the honour, Dr McCarthy said: “I am honoured to receive this award recognising innovation in dental education, within an international community of peers in higher education and pedagogy.”
Dr McCarthy’s recognition underscores the growing importance of research-informed teaching and international collaboration in dental hygiene and therapy. Her achievement marks a significant milestone for FoDOCS and highlights the faculty’s commitment to advancing excellence in dental education.