Associate Prof University of the Western Cape
Dirk Smit is a dentist (2006) and a specialist (2014) in Community Dentistry at the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). He has been chair of the Department of Community Dentistry since January 2020 and has 15 years of experience as a lecturer after proven research and mentorship for under- and post-graduate students in an academic and clinical environment. Other qualifications include certificates in Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Health Management and Medical Ethics and Law. He is the honorary secretary of the South African Dental Association (SADA) in Western Cape, an Executive member of the WHO Collaborating Centre for South Africa and serves on the Bio-Medical Research Ethics Committee of UWC. He is currently completing his PhD thesis titled: “Oral Health-related Quality of Life, dental status and treatment needs of people with substance use disorder.”