Peshawar: A lecture was recently organized to highlight the vision and mission of Peshawar Dental College (PDC). The event was attended by the faculty and staff of the College. Peshawar Dental College is second educational project of Prime Foundation Prime Foundation of Pakistan which is a nonprofit, charitable organization. This is a foundation’s new venture after successful inception of Peshawar Medical College (PMC).
While addressing the audience, Prof Dr Najeeb ul Haq, Advisor on health education of Prime foundation stated that the vision and mission of PDC was “Excellence in Professional competence and ethical values.” He told that Prime Foundation of Pakistan was operated by its board of Directors. The team comprised of dedicated multi-disciplinary medical professionals and educationists.
Prof Najeeb highlighted that Prime foundation does not belong to an individual or family. The main focus of Prime foundation has been education, health, research and social development. He further told, “PDC was started in 2010 which not only imparting undergraduate BDS degree programme but also running postgraduate courses like MPhil (Master of Philosophy) in basic sciences subject of Oral Pathology, Oral Biology, Science of Dental materials and MSc (Master of Sciences) in Community and Preventive Dentistry. The College has been privileged to offer PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in basic sciences such as Dental materials, Oral Pathology and Oral biology at Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa .There is also clinical training recognized by CPSP (College of Physician and Surgeons) such as FCPS (Fellow of College of Physicians and Surgeons) in the domain of Prosthodontics ,Orthodontics, Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, Operative Dentistry and MCPS (Member of College of Physicians and Surgeons) in Periodontology.”
Dr Najeeb ul Haq said that in addition to professional excellence, PDC had set its ethical value in dentistry with relevant knowledge. “This step is necessary to encourage Islamic value such as polite attitude, excellence, Salah and gender specific care when possible .The main purpose is to understand and impart relevant knowledge of Islam. Students should be aware of the relevant ethical issues in dental education and clinical practice.”
Dr Najeeb urged, “The basic obligations of a Muslim doctor is the knowledge of Islam and understand to practice it. This will strengthen faith to the community. We should follow the same principle in our own capacity to learn and practice Islamic knowledge.”
Prof Najeeb elaborated that the real emphasis of PDC has been on research. He told that a strict policy should be followed to curb plagiarism. A special research fund would be announced as an incentive for researchers to encourage publications. The cash incentive would be a token of respect and scknowldgement but also a mean to inculcate the culture of research activities. “A separate department of Undergraduate Research has been established for the same purpose. The Shariaah Advisory Board has been functioning for more than a decade which develops guide lines and answers any query regarding the ethical issues. The college has integrated ethical values in the Behavior Sciences Curriculum,” Dr Najeeb told.
While sharing the vision of PDC, Prof Najeeb said, “Vision is not the solution to a problem but actually a motivating force to find the solution to the problems. Quality education is need of the hour and the result of any system of education are primarily reflective of the quality of teachers; not the method of teaching or quality of students.”
Advisor on health education of Prime foundation said, “Professional competence is the key to success. Latest advancements of SEQ (Short-Essay Questions) and MCQ (Multiple-Choice Questions) banks are already in the process of completion. The knowledge and skills are the two arms of the triangle of Dental education which rest on the base of the triangle i.e. attitude.”
The event concluded with Q/A (Question/Answer) session. The PDC Dean and Faculty members expressed gratitude to Professor Najeeb ul Haq for his presence.
-DN Report