Monash University Department of Rural and Indigenous Health

A Study to Get Your Teeth Into!

A flexible and innovative approach to the needs of post graduates in rural areas offered by Monash University has led to health professional Pam Leong discovering she can make a difference.

Pam, a practicing oral health therapist and hygienist, worked full time as manager for Dental Health Services Victoria (Gippsland Region) whilst completing her Master of Rural Health, graduating with first class honours.

Doing post graduate study and working at the same time was not always easy. “It needed a lot of juggling and trying to be organised,” Ms Leong said. However she added “My supervisors were great.”

Concerned about the higher levels of tooth decay in rural children compared with their metropolitan counterparts, Pam set about designing a pilot study which would develop a simple and effective way of predicting early tooth decay in children.

“I guess I just wanted to understand the rural picture more from a dental and medical aspect.” she said.

Ms Leong commented that the exciting part of undertaking a pilot study was being able to show some results that will lead to something useful in terms of promoting rural health.

“Although dental decay is a largely preventable disease, it is Australia’s most prevalent health problem”. Ms Leong pointed out. “People don’t realise how important their teeth are. Poor oral health has a profound effect on general health and well being and has links with heart disease and diabetes. It even has links to premature babies.” she added.

This success has led Pam Leong into advancing her career into new fields such as teaching at a university and pursuing further research.

Monash University Department of Rural and Indigenous Health spokesperson Jane Taylor said “Pam Leong is to be congratulated for her excellent contribution to research in rural health. Her experience may inspire other health professionals to take on the challenge.”

“At Monash University our innovative Master of Health Sciences (Rural Stream) has been flexibly designed for the working health professional, who like Pam, wants to enhance their career with postgraduate study. Our students are health professionals who are committed to improving health and wellbeing of people in the bush. They come from a wide range allied health, nursing, medicine. The course is flexibly designed for off-campus so they can develop further study in their own field and work from home.”

Further information about the Master of Health Sciences (Rural Stream) can be obtained from Monash Department of Rural and Indigenous Health by phone on 03 5128 1000 or see our information on Postgraduate Programs.