Dimitra Lekkas

Associate Professor Dimitra Lekkas

Associate Professor/Reader

Adelaide Dental School

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Associate Professor Dimitra Lekkas
BDS Year 1 to 3 Program Coordinator

I am a member of the Craniofacial Biology and Dental Education Research Group. My current research interests include: toothwear studies, selection of dental students; supporting casual tutors; clinic communication skills and clinic assessment. Over the past eight years, I have collaborated with colleagues to receive grant funding totalling $143,459, produced 16 publications in international peer-reviewed journals and one book chapter. I have completed co-supervision of 1 PhD and 3 honours students.

 

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    1999 - ongoing Associate Professor University of Adelaide

  • Awards and Achievements
    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2016 Award Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning Australian Awards for University Teaching Australia -
    2016 Award University of Adelaide Beacon Commendation for the Enhancement and Innovation of Student Learning The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2015 Award Good practice in supporting sessional staff award: Benchmarking Leadership Advancement Standards for Sessional Teaching Macquarie University Australia -
    2013 Award Good practice in supporting sessional staff award: Benchmarking Leadership Advancement Standards for Sessional Teaching Macquarie University Australia -
    2013 Scholarship Barbara Kidman Women's Fellowship The University of Adelaide Australia ($22,226

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2010 University of Adelaide Australia PhD
    1994 University of Adelaide Australia Graduate Diploma in Clinical Dentistry
    1992 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Dental Surgery

Research Grants

 2014 State-of-the-art imaging of early enamel erosion in deciduous teeth. Mann C, Ranjitkar S, Brook A, Hall C, Lekkas D, Kaidonis JA, Townsend GC. ADRF.  $7,660.

2013 What demographic and program factors are associated with positive and negative patients’ ratings of the quality of dental student’s clinical communication?. Winning T, Skinner V, Lekkas D, Schönwetter D. The GC MI Research Award and Presentation ADRF $5000

2013 Mann C, Ranjitkar S, Hall C, Losic D, Lekkas D, Kaidonis J, Townsend GC. Dentsply Australia Pty Ltd. High-resolution 3D dental microwear texture analysis. 2013, $700.

2012 Do multifaceted admission processes predict performance of students in two Australasian dental programmes? Lekkas D, Winning  T, Townsend G, Uni of Adelaide in collaboration with Rich A, Rountree J, Seymour G, University of Otago. UMAT Consortium, Australian Council of Educational Research $100,000

2012 A search for novel techniques in assessing early enamel erosion. Mann C, Ranjitkar S, Hall C, Losic D, Lekkas D, Kaidonis J, Townsend GC. ADRF Undergraduate Research Grant $2700

2012 Emerging techniques in assessing early enamel erosion. Mann C, Ranjitkar S, Hall C, Losic D, Lekkas D, Kaidonis J, Townsend GC.  Dentsply Australia Pty Ltd. $700

2012 Nano-architectural characterization of sound enamel and incipient enamel caries using nanoCT. Jensen S, Ranjitkar S, Hall C, Lekkas D, Kaidonis J, Townsend G. Dentsply Australia Pty Ltd. $2500

2009  How well do our students communicate with their patients?: self- and patient evaluation of communication skills in dental student practitioners. Winning T, Lekkas D, Skinner V, Schonwetter D, Wener, M, Mazurat N. ADRF $3200

2008 Factors influencing dental students’ learning of psychomotor skills. Winning T, Lekkas D, Suksadaj N, Kaidonis J ADRF $8500

2007 The development of psychomotor skills in dental students. Winning T, Lekkas D, Suksadaj N, Kaidonis J.ADRF $12499

University Grants

2013. Lekkas D. Barbara Kidman Women’s Fellowship ($29,626)

Teaching Development Grants

2019. Lekkas D,  Palmer E, Skinner V, Parker E, Stow L, Zaccardo B, Williamson N, Menicanin D Learning Enhancement Innovation Grant. The University of Adelaide. $5000. The value of live lectures and lecture recordings. Do they matter?.

2016 Lekkas D, Winning, Fung L, Aldenhoven, Cooper R.  e-Learning grant Faculty Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Adelaide.  $5000 e-Clinical Assessment (e-CAP): Readiness for the dental workplace

2003-2004 Lekkas D, Winning T, Townsend G, Kaidonis J, Ranjitkar S. Learning and Teaching Development Grant, The University of Adelaide. $22,226. Professional development for post-graduates in their role as clinic teachers .

I am a full time tenured Associate Professor and BDS Year 1 to 3 Program Coordinator,  Adelaide Dental School, The University of Adelaide.

My expertise in teaching and related duties is within the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) program, which is a 5-year full-time undergraduate program. One key feature of the Adelaide BDS curriculum is the integration of the previous four individual subjects into one single whole year 24-unit subject (stream) in each year referred to as Dental Science and Practice (DSP). I am involved in clinical teaching in Years 1, 2, 3; simulation clinical teaching in Years 1, 2, 3; simulated patient clinical communication skills activities and case-based learning activities in Years 2 and 3. I hold several coordinator positions: Year 2 Clinic Coordinator; Year 1,2  and 3 ILA (Integrated learning activities coordinator – which is our case-based learning). I am involved in assessment roles eg, exam setting, marking and moderation; ensuring cohesion of exam approaches and clinical assessment approaches across the BDS program.

I was the inaugural Bachelor Dental Surgery Program Coordinator (2015 to 2020) and currently serving as the BDS Year 1 to 3 Program Coordinator. Program level roles including monitoring course content (academic and clinical) and outcomes of the BDS Year 1 to 3 program. Ensuring coherence of program design, course outlines and content. Overseeing innovation within the curriculum. Monitoring the achievement of graduate attributes and advising on program standards and quality. Reporting on quality assurance processes that monitor, evaluate and improve the quality of the program (e.g. admissions, assessment and compliance with accreditation). Playing a role in undergraduate student welfare and dispute resolution with respect to assessment. I am also our School’s Academic Integrity officer (2020-) and  “Tutor Coordinator” (2007 to present).  The latter is a role that the School established to recruit, induct and support our large pool of casual staff and to ensure that they are familiar with changes in our teaching and contemporary best practice in dental education. In 2019 I was an invited to be part of the New Zealand Dental Council Accreditation team to review the Dental Surgery program, University of Otago.

I am currently an active member of several key Faculty and School level committees ie, Faculty Admissions Committee; Adelaide Dental School Program Board, and Dental Operational Forum.

In 2020, I was humbling awarded a "Community Legend" for individuals who went above and beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.adelaide.edu.au/community/legends

Learning and Teaching Awards

  • Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning, Australian Awards for University Teaching (2016)
  • University of Adelaide Beacon Commendation for the Enhancement and Innovation of Student Learning (2016)
  • “Good practice in supporting sessional staff award” at the Benchmarking Leadership Advancement Standards for Sessional Teaching Summits (2013 and 2015).
  • Position: Associate Professor/Reader
  • Phone: 83134229
  • Email: dimitra.lekkas@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences, floor 10
  • Org Unit: Dental
Connect With Me
External Profiles