Archana Pradhan

Archana is currently the Program Director of Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (DCD) and Stream Coordinator of Special Needs Dentistry (SND) in the Sydney School of Dentistry. She will actively lead and contribute to the provision of advanced clinical training leading to specialist registration in the discipline of Special Needs Dentistry and Gerodontology, research and scholarship, policy development and innovation within the University and broader community.

She gained her research experience from the Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health (ARCPOH), where she was the investigator and examiner for research involving people with disability and aged care residents. She was the lead for People with Disabilities, Australia's National Oral Health Plan (2015 - 2024).

She played a major role as the discipline lead in SND at The University of Queensland, where she initiated and consolidated the development of multiple new placements for undergraduate and postgraduate students, by developing relationships with external agencies, and facilitated referral pathways for people with disability, and mental health clients.

As an active member of the Australia and New Zealand Academy of Special Needs Dentistry (ANZASND) and Australian Society of Special Care in Dentistry (ASSCID), she led and contributed to several consultations and submissions including the Royal Commission for Disability and Aged Care.

As the National Clinical Director, Special Smiles, Special Olympics Australia, she has been a strong advocate for people with special needs and their carers. Her passion is to translate academic interprofessional education into practice and form successful partnerships within and across health and community networks.

Archana is a member of the Centre for Disability Research and Policy, within the Faculty of Medicine and Health.