Leandra Best

Biography

 W. Leandra Best, DMD, Clinical Professor, joined the Faculty of Dentistry in 1999 as a part-time instructor in fixed prosthodontics and quickly became involved in many components of the dental curriculum. As DMD coordinator for years one and two, she worked closely with the Faculty of Medicine on the delivery of our joint problem-based learning (PBL) pedagogy. She co-authored numerous PBL cases and developed Dentistry's PBL Tutor Training Workshop and the PBL Orientation for students.     Leandra, who received a 2004 Dentistry Teaching Award, a 2006 Killam University Excellence in Teaching Award and was the 2007 3M - ESPE ACFD National Teaching Award winner, has been involved in UBC-wide faculty development workshops at the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology, the Faculty of Medicine and the UBC Campus PBL Network. She has extensive knowledge of the DMD curriculum, having taught in all four years and through facilitating numerous collaborative curriculum projects with faculty. She is a UBC Dentistry faculty liaison on the American Dental Education Association Commission on Change and Innovation (ADEA CCI), a dentistry faculty representative on numerous UBC committees and within the Faculty of Dentistry. Leandra was elected a Fellow of the American College of Dentists in 2013 and a Fellow of the International College of Dentists in 2014 in recognition of services and devotion to the advancement of the science and art of Dentistry.     As Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Leandra oversees the DMD and DHDP curricula and the academic progress of students. She serves as chair of the DMD Curriculum, Teaching and Effectiveness Subcommittee, the DMD and DHDP Academic Progress Committees and the DMD Academic Advisory Team. Leandra has received a number of grants to support her keen interest in dental education research, specifically in the areas of assessment, development of curriculum and students' learning skills. She has presented posters and workshops at dental education conferences, both nationally and internationally.

Research Interest

Education-related scholarly activities: Enhancing student learning experiences through curriculum innovation, assessment, case writing and faculty development.