Rate My Professor Chrish Fernando

Dr Chrish Fernando served as a Lecturer in the Oral Health Therapy program at Curtin University, within the School of Nursing and Midwifery in the Faculty of Health Sciences. In this role, he contributed to clinical education, student supervision, and research initiatives focused on oral health. His tenure at Curtin University ended in early 2025, after which he transitioned to a Senior Professional Practice Fellow position and Wellbeing Champion role in the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Otago. Fernando's academic background includes a Bachelor of Oral Health in Dental Science, a Master of Dentistry from Griffith University, a Graduate Certificate in Health Professions Education, and ongoing pursuit of a Master of Health Professions Education (Thesis and Coursework) at the University of Western Australia. He has held clinical positions as a general dentist and dental therapist, including at practices such as Thorndent Clinical Services and The Dentists Subiaco.

Fernando's research specializations encompass dental education, oral health education, mental health and wellbeing in the dental profession, curriculum design, epidemiology of oral health, socioeconomic influences on children's oral hygiene practices, and mHealth applications for remote dental screening. Key publications include 'Experience of primary caregivers in utilising an mHealth application for remote dental screening in preschool children' (Australian Health Review, 2023, co-authored with Azimi, Estai, Patel, Silva, and Tennant), 'Socioeconomic status and toothbrushing in Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian children' (JDR Clinical & Translational Research, 2023, with Ha, Do, and Tadakamadla), 'All at sea' (Dental Protection Australia Young Dental Practitioner Newsletter, 2023), and 'Stages of a Career' (Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, 2022). He has received several honors, including the Adelaide Research Summer Scholarship from the Robinson Research Institute at the University of Adelaide (2016), Griffith Summer Research Scholarship and Health Dean (Research) Summer Scholarship (2020), Griffith Award for Academic Excellence (2019 and 2017), Outstanding Merit Award from Griffith University Dental Students’ Association (2019), and participation in the Global Leadership Forum (Asia-Pacific, 2021). Additional recognitions include certificates of appreciation for leadership in student associations and the Vice Chancellor's Scholarship for Excellence in Leadership, Academics, and Community Involvement from Bond University (2015).