Research Outline: Pharmacology and Public Engagement
As a dental student with a strong interest in community dentistry, I believe it’s essential to foster stronger connections between dentistry and other areas of healthcare. One key area where this can have real impact is pharmacology a subject that underpins much of clinical decision making but is often misunderstood outside academic settings.
The research project will explore three central questions:
- What is the public understanding of pharmacology?
- What are the prospective student expectations of pharmacology?
- How can we address these through open days, public engagement events or other means?
Through this project, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of pharmacology and its relevance within dentistry, while also exploring how we can better engage the public and future students with this important subject. I aim to highlight the importance of public engagement in healthcare education and services, and how it can bridge knowledge gaps and inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals.
I’m particularly excited to be working under the supervision of Dr Alex Holmes, whose expertise and guidance I’m confident will shape this into a meaningful and impactful project. I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity and proud to be part of the Laidlaw community.
Hello, my name is Yara Alhajji.
I’m a 3rd year dental student at the University of Leeds with a strong interest in public health, paediatric dentistry, and community outreach. As someone with lived experience as a Syrian refugee, I’m deeply passionate about equity in healthcare access and using my platform to give back to underrepresented communities.
Over the past few years, I’ve actively participated in several outreach programmes including OpenWide, Raised in Yorkshire, and Reach for Expense, all aimed at improving dental awareness and education across diverse populations.
I’ve proudly been part of OpenWide for three consecutive years initially as the Primary School Representative, then as President, and currently serving as the Outreach Representative. The society works to bridge the gap between dental professionals and the wider community, delivering workshops for people of all ages. Through the society I’ve initiated a collaboration with Raised in Yorkshire, a long term outreach and research initiative exploring public understanding of dental health and shaping how we engage communities more meaningfully.
Outside of dentistry, I’m an outdoor enthusiast who loves hiking and challenging myself through physical activities. My background and personal journey continue to fuel my drive to advocate for inclusive healthcare and make a positive impact through both clinical practice and community-led research.
Feel free to reach out to me on here or through my email dn23ya@leeds.ac.uk or through my Instagram account!
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