Equity Equality Diversity and Inclusion in the DDUH

Equity, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in the DDUH and School of Dental Sciene, TCD

Welcome the DDUH’s Equity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EEDI) webpage. The DDUH’s Athena Swan/ EEDI Committee & the DDUH Executive Team are responsible for creating an environment that is safe for, representative of and supportive to all staff and students of our community. The DDUH Athena Swan/ EEDI Committee & the DDUH Executive Team are committed to making significant improvements to EEDI as part of our Strategic Plan and our commitment to the Athena Swan Ireland 2021 charter framework. Our work spans issues related to gender, age, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, race, religion, differing ability, socioeconomic status and more.

Please keep an eye out for updates on this work, and our other projects, here on this webpage and through our ‘News’ section of this website: https://www.dentalhospital.ie/news

The DDUH’s Athena Swan/ EEDI Committee
Athena SwanAthena SWAN (Scientific Women’s Academic Network) is a charter established and managed by the British Equality Challenge Unit in 2005 that recognises and celebrates good practice towards the advancement of gender equality: representation, progression, and success for all.
Please see the below link for further information on the Athena Swan Charter: https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/equality-charters/athena-swan-charter
As part of the Athena SWAN programme, Universities and Departments/Schools can apply for recognition for efforts towards ensuring gender equality practices.
The DDUH community were delighted to be awarded an Athena Swan Bronze Award in 2025. This award recognises the DDUH for identifying EEDI-specific challenges and implementing a solid foundation for advancing EEDI principles within the DDUH.
Upcoming EEDI Events & Recent Activity at the DDUH
Please see the ‘News’ section of this website for upcoming EEDI events and recent activity in the DDUH: https://www.dentalhospital.ie/news

The Committee

The committee seeks to advance EEDI within the DDUH. We aim to build the foundations for an inclusive and productive workplace in which all individuals can achieve their best and where diversity is valued. To achieve this, we seek to provide equal and equitable opportunities and expectations for individuals, regardless of their gender identity or expression, race, culture, sexual identity or any other attribute.

The Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team (SAT) was initially setup in October 2023 and more recently adapted into The DDUH’s Athena Swan/ EEDI Committee. The committee is chaired by our Director of EEDI. We are currently developing further steps to promote EEDI across the DDUH in of future Athena Swan award applications. Once the next Athena SWAN application is submitted, this committee will then transform into the DDUH’s EEDI committee.

Terms of Reference
Purpose of the Committee:
  • To promote the Athena SWAN Charter principles in the DDUH.
  • To implement the Athena SWAN action plan in the DDUH.
  • To drive the EEDI agenda, ensuring equality is a key consideration in all plans developed.
Principles of committee management:
  • The committee will uphold a commitment to openness and accountability at all levels. In support of this, the committee will encourage and enable engagement of key stakeholders in the committee activity where appropriate.
  • The committee and individual members should act according to high ethical standards and ensure that no conflict of interest arises between their personal and professional roles and those of the committee.
  • In so far as possible, members will seek to make decisions by consensus. Where consensus is not possible, extended discussions should try and facilitate compromise and/or alternative solutions. Matters may also be put to a vote where attempts to reach consensus have failed.
Meetings:
The committee will on a monthly basis in the 12-18 months prior to an application submission. When not working towards a submission, these meetings will occur quarterly. The committee will organise its work to ensure that it makes the most effective use of the time, skills and knowledge of members. The diverse range of skills, experience and knowledge of the members and Chair (EEDI Director) will be employed to contribute to the effective running of the committee.
Membership and Rotation:
The committee will seek gender balance as per the DDUH’s gender ratio, and a mix of roles/grades representing different stages of the career ladder, particularly at the early and mid-career stages, and include student representation. 
A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet will record members’ information and date of start.
A three-year period of office will be encouraged but rotation will occur yearly, to facilitate student membership. The committee shall have the right to co-opt new and/or temporary members should a need arise because of leave or based on emerging issues.
Reporting Relationships:
The Committee via the Chair and/or Dean reports directly into the School Executive committee bimonthly. 
The Chair will also report to the Trinity EEDI Committee as required.
Administrative Support:
Administrative support is critical to the working of the committee, particularly when preparing an award application, and should be provided by the Faculty of Health Sciences in conjunction with the DDUH.
The DDUH’s Athena Swan/ EEDI Committee Membership
Mr. Seán Phelan – EEDI Director/Athena Swan Lead & Chair, Dental Nurse Tutor, Division I
Prof. Alison Dougall - Dean of Dental Affairs/Head of School
Prof. Ioannis Polyzois – Clinical Director, Division II
Dr. Angus Burns – Orthodontics, Head of Division I
Prof. Lewis Winning – Restorative Dentistry, Head of Division II
Dr. Sheila Galvin  – Oral Medicine, Head of Division III
Prof. Derek Sullivan - Professor in Microbiology. Head of Division IV
Asst. Prof. Heather Reilly –  Director of Undergraduate Teaching & Learning, Dental Studies, Division II
Assoc. Prof. Brett Duane - Dental Public Health (Sustainability and Inequalities Lead), Division I
Dr. Bahman Honari – Statistics, Division II
Dr. Mary Clarke – Lecturer in Conscious Sedation (Dental Science) Division III
Ms. Aisling Thompson – School Manager

Ms. Claire Keyes – Clinic Nurse Manager

Ms. Áine Fernandes – Senior Dental Nurse
Ms. Sarah Troute - Dental Hygienist Division II
Ms. Sinéad Breen – Dental Nurse
Ms. Deborah O’Gorman - Lead Divisional Administrator Division II
Ms. Jennifer Mulready - Undergraduate Programme Administrator
Ms.  Amy Fisher - Postgraduate Administrator

Dr. Ivana Ilic Dimitrijevic – PG Special Care Dentistry Student

Mr. James Larkin - Post Doctoral Researcher

Ms. Kashifa Morenikenji - UG Dental Nursing Student

Ms. Judit Bicok UG Dental Technology StudentMs. Michelle de Deyn – UG Dental Science Student

Ms. Donna Carter-Leay – Project Manager

Ms. Leanne Dowling - HR Team Lead

Ms. Siobhán Wray - HR Administrator

Ms. Amhairgín Ní Laoi – Athena Swan Project Manager
EEDI Related DDUH Polices & Procedures

HCI Portal

The purpose of this corner of the website is to sign-post DDUH Staff and enrolled students to EEDI related DDUH polices & procedures. DDUH Staff and enrolled students are advised to log into the HCI portal to access the below policies and procedures: https://dubden.hci.care/

Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and that policy titles and content are subject to change:

Absence from Work Policy

Adoptive Leave Policy

Career Break Policy

Carer’s Leave Policy

Dignity and Respect at Work Policy

Disciplinary Policy

Grievance Policy

Sick Leave Policy

Pension Scheme Information Policy

Child Protection & Welfare Policy

DDUH Staff & Student Training

The purpose of this corner of the website is to sign-post DDUH Staff and enrolled students to EEDI related training. DDUH Staff and enrolled students are advised to complete the following training – please speak to your line-manager/ course director to understand what training that you are required to complete:

All Staff & Students:

HSELanD: An Introduction to Children First

HSELanD: Safeguarding Adults at Risk of Abuse

HSELanD: Fundamentals in GDPR

DDUH Staff:

Training titles are currently being update, watch this space!

TCD Staff:

 Online Training Module - Let's Talk About Race in the Higher Education Sector

Online Training Module - EDI in Higher Education

Students:

Training titles are currently being update, watch this space!