
Creates a collaborative learning environment.
This comment is not public.
Donna Kennedy is a Lecturer in Oral Health at Auckland University of Technology within the Health Science faculty. She holds a Bachelor of Health Science majoring in Oral Health from AUT, obtained between 2002 and 2005. As a registered Dental Therapist, she maintains a clinical practice in Auckland, New Zealand, where she specializes in providing informed and positive dental experiences, particularly for adolescents. Her patient-centered approach involves assessing individual needs and educating on effective oral hygiene practices to foster long-term oral health outcomes. Kennedy balances her clinical commitments with academic responsibilities, teaching two days a week in AUT's Oral Health department.
In her academic role, Donna Kennedy contributes to the delivery of the Bachelor of Health Science (Oral Health) programme, which prepares students for registration as oral health therapists with the Dental Council of New Zealand. She has participated in multiple accreditation site evaluation visits by the Dental Council, including those in September 2022 for the core Oral Health programme, May 2023 for the Northland remote learning delivery, and April 2024 for the Graduate Certificate of Health Science (Oral Health - Adult Restorative Therapy). These engagements demonstrate her involvement in maintaining high standards of oral health education at AUT. Additionally, she has facilitated community-oriented initiatives, such as aspects of research on oral health knowledge and attitudes among care facility staff caring for older people. Through her combined clinical and teaching expertise, Donna Kennedy advances oral health education and practice in Health Science.