Professional E-Portfolio

Bio-Sketch

Dr Craig Peck

I obtained both my B.Med.Sc (Medical Physiology and Medical Virology) and B.Ch.D degrees form Stellenbosch University (1994 and 1997 respectively) and was awarded the SADA Gold Medal for highest achievement for my dental degree. Upon graduation, I lived and worked in London as a dentist for approximately 8 years, where I furthered my studies in minimally invasive cosmetic procedures (Botox and dermal fillers). I returned back to Cape Town in 2004 and for the following 10 years focused my efforts in the retail and manufacturing sectors of commerce. This break proved to be vital for my personal growth and is responsible for creating an all-together more well-rounded and grounded individual, capable of achieving more than I thought possible and boldly prepared to head into new and undiscovered territories.

In 2013, I made the decision to return back to the clinical arena by joining the UWC Dental Faculty in 2014 as Dental Surgeon and Clinical Supervisor in the departments of Paediatric Dentistry, Oral Medicine and Periodontology, and Conservative/ Restorative Dentistry. Here, I supervised and educated dental students from second to final year within the clinical setting (including in theatre and sedation), as well as treating patients with a variety of dental problems myself. In 2016, I moved exclusively to Conservative/ Restorative Dentistry department, as clinical supervisor (third to final year students) and lecturer of 'Dental Science of Dental Materials' and 'Non-invasive Restorative Techniques' to second year students. In 2019, I joined the Department of Paediatric Dentistry at UWC in a permanent capacity as Lecturer and Clinical Supervisor; as well as module coordinator of the 4th-year Paediatric programme and 4th-year coordinator of the dental degree programme; serving on Student Affairs, Hospital Clinical and Timetabling committees. I strongly believe that, in order to properly educate and instruct students with regard to clinical issues, educators must be at the forefront of patient-treatment themselves.

I regard myself as a very patient and understanding individual, who puts a high value on respect - of other people and of their views. I am a good listener who believes that reaching a suitable compromise is often better than unilateral decision making and place a high importance on privacy and confidentiality. I enjoy humour and have learnt the value of openness and honesty, while remaining tactful and mindful. For one to be part of any society and feel worthwhile and useful, one must get to know one's self fully in order to be comfortable with who you are, to be able to be reliant on ones choices and defend them if need be and to be able to love one's self. After all, the most important person in your life must be yourself, because putting the hopes, dreams, wants and needs of others before yours will only create a more insecure, needy and fragile person within yourself - and who really wants a friend who requires that much work?

I believe in the power of education and uphold its importance in any society, because education is a truly movable asset that can never be lost, stolen or taken away. Education instils hope, create dreams, unifies and protects, ensures growth and prosperity and grounds society by setting norms and values that are based on factual realities of modern times. Education does not discriminate on any grounds and the process teaches one to complete that which one starts. Education sees the relevance of history but strives for improvement through understanding and gained knowledge of the present in order to better the future. I believe that education has to be the cornerstone of any successful and moral society and therefore feel the need to further my studies with regards to discovering more about the machine that drives this wonderful gift. Therefore, I enrolled for the M.Phil degree program in Health Professions Education at Stellenbosch University for the next 2 years (2017 and 2018), which I graduated in December 2018.

I am very fortunate that both my parents are still alive, who have been married for 50+ years and have one sister, who is 17 months older than me and married. I am somewhat of a confirmed bachelor myself, without any dependants. I love animals (dogs especially), am a self-taught abstract artist in my spare time and enjoy trying cuisines from different cultures and nations.

I live by the motto 'First, do no harm' and believe in the importance of maintaining the universal balance, which underpins the principle that no man shall be able to receive more than he gives and this action must be done selflessly, without the expectation of reciprocation of action.

FolioSpaces E-portfolio 2017 URL: https://www.foliospaces.org/view/view.php?t=oTcByUb40OAZQizX5Dr1

FolioSpaces E-portfolio 2018 URL: https://www.foliospaces.org/view/view.php?t=URNwHlsgvVoTtDu4Yij3