I studied for my dental degree in the years 1966 – 1971. Simultaneously, I was working in the Committee on Culture of the ZSP Students‘ Association and was a member of the Students‘ Council. At the fourth year of my stidies I participated in the work of the student scientific circle at the Department of Prosthodontics.
On the fifth year, I had a one-month practice in Zagreb (Yugoslavia). I received the Rector’s Award for my diploma examination. After graduating in 1971 I started to work in the Department of Prosthodontics at the Dental Institute of the Medical University in Poznań within an Assistantship Preparatory Training under the supervision of Professor Rudolf Sarrazin. In 1972, after successful completion of one-year study, I got a full-time position of an assistant. My next teacher was Professor Stefan Włoch, the head of the Department of Prosthodontics until 1996.
In 1976 I was advanced to a position of a senior assistant, and in 1979, after the defense of my PhD thesis “Evaluation of chosen control and correction methods of dental prostheses articulation“ and after achieving a doctor of medicine degree in the same year, I started to work as a lecturer.
My examination for an assistant professor position took place in May 1995 on the basis of the habilitation dissertation „Evaluation of the centric occlusion with a gnatosonic method”. In September of the same year my title of an assistant professor in dentistry – prosthodontics was confirmed by the Central Commission for Scientific Titles and Degrees.
In 1975 I became the 1st degree specialist in general dentistry, and in 1979 I became the 2nd degree specialist in prosthodontics.
As a result of a competition, on January 1, 1997 I was nominated by the Rector of the Medical University in Poznań to a position of the Head of the Propedeutic and Dental Rehabilitation Department at the Dental Institute of the Karol Marcinkowski Medical University in Poznań. In January 2002 I was approved for the next five years at this position. Since 2004 I have been the Head of the Department and Clinic of Prosthodontics.
For almost 2,5 years I was working at the Ile-Ife University in Nigeria as a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Restorative Dentistry where my duties were similar to those at the Propedeutic Department of the Medical University in my home town. I ran clinical classes with students of the 4th and 5th year, and lectures on dental prostheses. Working at the University, I was able to get a first-hand knowledge on the English language university schools. The curriculum and the system of work were similar to those in Great Britain. In 1996 I received a scholarship for a few months at the Abteilung Zahnarztliche Prothetik, Propadeutik und Werkstoffkunde, Zentrum Zahn-, Mund- und Kieferheilkunde at the Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel, Germany.
In June 2000 I took a training in ESPE Co. and W&H Co., in September 2003 – in Ivoclar/Vivadent Co., and in 2001 – in ADEC, Portland and Sparza, Bogota.
At the time of my private visits to Great Britain (Sheffield, 1973), the USA (Buffalo, 1977 and 1986, and Loma Linda, 1997) and Germany (Hanover, 1979) I had an opportunity to observe the teaching process of the future dentists. Besides, I was interested in the research done at these centres. One week in February 2004 I carried out research with dr Peter Likeman at the Department of Prosthetic Dentistry Guy Hospital, London, working on soft masses used to line dentures.
The Governor of the Wielkopolska District appointed me to a position of the District Consultant For Prosthodontics for a term from 2005 to 2007, and again in 2010.
As a result of a competition, in July 2008 I was appointed by the Rector to a position of the Head of the Dental Centre in the K. Marcinkowski Medical University in Poznań. I held this position until May 31, 2011.
My reseach includes 346 titles.
My scientific achievement includes:
Junior staff training
doctoral dissertations supervised
- M. Urbanek-Brychczyńska, MD, PhD: Ilościowa ocena uwalniania jonów metali ciężkich ze stopów dentystycznych 2001r. (“Quantitative analysis of heavy metals ions release from dental alloys“; dissertation completed)
- P. Gajdus, DDS: Ocena wybranych metod zbrojenia tworzywa akrylowego stosowanego w leczeniu protetycznym. („Evaluation of chosen methods of reinforcing of acrylic material applied in prosthetic treatment“; dissertation completed)
- B. Muszalski, DDS: Ocena niektórych właściwości fizycznych wybranych cementów dentystycznych stosowanych w leczeniu protetycznym („Evaluation of selected physical properties of chosen dental cements applied in prosthetic treatment“; dissertation completed)
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- R. Zagalak, DDS: Ocena właściwosci mechanicznych dwuczęściowych wszczepów stomatologicznych Osteoplant („Evaluation of mechanical properties of two-phase Osteoplant dental implants“; dissertation completed)
- B. Sikorska, DDS: Ocena wybranych możliwosci modyfikacji mechanicznej i chemicznej tytanu medycznego stosowanego w implantologii. („Evaluation of chosen methods of mechanical and chemical modification of medical titanium used in implantology“; dissertation completed)
- Szymon Rzątowski, DDS: Analiza wartości siły retencji zewnątrzkoronowych precyzyjnych elementów utrzymujących. Rozprawa doktorska. 2008 („The analysis of retention force of extra-coronal precision retentive elements“; dissertation completed)
- Piotr Andrysiak,DDS: Ocena interakcji promieniowania lasera CO2 z wybranymi matariałami dentystycznymi. 2008, („Evaluation of interaction of CO2 laser radiation with chosen dental materials“; dissertation completed)
- Anna Sójka,DDS: Ocena przydatności ultradźwiękowej techniki instrumentalnej w diagnostyce dysfunkcji narządu żucia. 2009 („Evaluation of ultrasonic instrumental technique to diagnose masticatory disfunctions“; dissertation completed)
- Agnieszka Marcinkowska,DDS: Ocena jakościowa materiałów stomatologicznych metodami spektrofotometrii w podczerwieni i przewodności elektrycznej. 2010 („Qualitative evaluation of dental materials using spectrophotometry in infrared light and electric conductivity“; dissertation completed)
I am currently supervising a reasearch conducted to complete further doctoral theses.
I have been supervising dentists doing their specialty of the 1st and 2nd degree (in total 11 people); 8 of them have already received a title of the specialist. I gave lectures and classes at the courses offered by the Postgraduate Training Medical Centre, the WODKM Medical Practitioner Training District Centre and the Prosthodontics Department of the Medical University for the 1st and 2nd degree specialists in Poznań, Zielona Góra, Leszno and Gorzów. Besides, I gave lectures at the courses for dental technicians from all over Poland offered by the Dental Technique Postgraduate School in Poznań. I have been supervising prosthodontics apprenticeships done by dentists for a title of the 1st and 2nd degree specialist.
Recently the following dentists have received the title of a specialist in prosthodontics under my supervision:
- Szymon Rzątowski, DDS, PhD (2010)
- Dominik Matkowski, DDS (2010)
- Agnieszka Ratajczak-Zieleniewska, DDS (2011)
- Agnieszka Rybka, DDS
Currently 11 dentists are preparing for their specialisation exams at the Clinic of Prosthodontics.
The Clinic of Prosthodontics runs the following theoretical and practical courses included in the prosthodontic specialisation curriculum:
Prosthetic rehabilitation of patients following surgeries on the facial skeleton
Dental prosthetics in the developmental period of a man
Health promotion in dental prosthethics
Dental implantoprosthetics – theory and practical procedures
Prosthetic treatment of toothlessness
Structural and functional defects of the stomatognatic system
Prosthodontic treatment of partial toothlessness with teeth supported removable dentures
These courses are open to dentists from our region and from other centres.
I supervise the STN students‘ scientific circle.
I reviewed 21 doctoral dissertations.
I assessed the scientific achievement and qualifying papers of candidates applying for the post of an Assistant Professor. I gave opinions on the applications submitted to the Faculty Councils for the titles of an Associate Professor.
My work for the University
I was a member of the examination committees at the entry exams for the 1st year of studies.
In 2003 I was a halls coordinator at the entry examination to the Faculty of Dentistry.
I was in the committees validating diplomas and doctoral and assistant professor titles as well as the committees dealing with nominations for positions of the head of departments and clinics.
I was in the examination committee for the 1st degree specialist in general dentistry, appointed by the Department of Social Policy of the Wielkopolska District Administration in Poznań.
I reviewed applications for funds for the University own studies.
I assessed the STN students‘ works presented to apply for funds supporting their research.
I created teaching resources comprising slides and computerised patient’s records, and filed on the CDs the research conducted at the Propedeutic and Dental Rehabilitation Department and the Prosthodontics Department.
I led numerous reseach projects.
Other commitments
I was a member of a team responsible for compiling KREL examination questions in prosthodontics for graduates of faculties and divisions of dentistry.
I worked out questions in prosthodontics required to initiate basic specialty training in dentistry.
The Minister of Health appointed me a member of the Team of Experts to review institutions which apply to be introduced on the ministerial list of units certified to run specialisation courses or apprenticeships in prosthodontics. This commitment is connected with the work in the team of experts dealing with accreditation in prosthodontics established by the Medical Centre for Post-Graduate Training in Warsaw.
On December 13, 2002 The Conference of the Rectors of Medical Universities in Poland appointed me a member of the Accreditation Committee of Medical Universities for 2003-2005; on January 9, 2006 I was reappointed for the same position (with its current name of KAAUM) for the years 2006-2008
On February 2, 2005 the Wielkopolska District Governor appointed me the district consultant in prosthodontics, the position I have been holding until the present day.
I was working in an advisory team for setting up the Nonpublic Health Care Facility „Institute of Dentistry“, being appointed by the Rector of the Poznan Medical University Prof.L.Drobnik on July 26, 2000.
The Medical University Rector appointed me on November 24, 2003 a member of the Council of Clinicians in an Independent Public Health Care Unit in the Centre of Dental Clinics attached to the Medical University of Poznan.
I was a member of the Medical University Fundation Council (for two terms), the position which was offerred to me again in 2002 to be valid until August 31, 2004.
On October 10, 2002 the University Rector appointed me a member of the University Senate Committee for the cooperation with foreign centres and on December 28, 2005 a member of the Senate Committee for the Faculty Staff Affairs.
For two terms I have worked as an expert in prosthodontics for the Wielkopolska Medical Chamber.
I am a member of an international Team of Experts developing the standards of dental prosthetics specialty in Europe.
Scientific societies work and membership:
Since 1972 I have been a member of the Polish Dental Society (PDS) and starting from November 30, 2001 I belong to the Presidium of the Society Board. I have delivered lectures in numerous Polish cities on the Society meetings.
Since 1993 I was the president of the Prosthodontic Section of the Polish Dental Society consisting of more than 100 members and I organised, among others, scientific-training meetings twice a year. These meetings were frequented by lecturers from Poznan and professors from other academic centres as well as from abroad. In 1997 I was reelected for the same position. I served my first term from May 17, 1993, the second term from September 27, 1997. At present I am the vice-president of the Society.
During XVII PDS Conference in Szczecin in May 1998 I was elected the Head of the National Section of Prosthodontics within the PDS. In June 2002 during the Conference in Lichen I was reelected to serve a 4-year term.
I have been a member of the European Prosthodontic Association (EPA) since 1996 and have already been a Board member. Currently I participate in the works of the Joint National Committee. I acted as the President –Elect for the organisation of the EPA Conference in Poznan in 2005.
I belong to the International College of Prosthodontists (ICP; since 2001)
I am a founder member of the Towarzystwo Chorób Narządu Żucia (Masticatory Organ Diseases Society) based in Lublin. I worked in its Review Committee from May 2001 until 2003.
Since 2002 I have belonged to the Ogólnopolskie Stowarzyszenie Implantologii Stomatologicznej (OSIS; Polish National Dental Implantology Association) as well as to the American Pierre Fauchard Academy (International Honor Dental Organization).
I also worked in Organization and Scientific Committees of many conferences and symposia both national and international (EPA Conference in Poznan, 2005)
Cooperation with scientific journals:
Since 1997 I have worked in the Editorial Committee and Board of the „Protetyka Stomatologiczna“ magazine. On January 1, 2001 I became the Editor-in-Chief of „Quintessence Polska“ devoted for dental practitioners in Poland („Quintessence“ is devoted for dental practitioners of the world)
I act as a Consulting Editor in the „Contemporary Who’s Who“ Publishers.
I am a member of an Editorial Committee of the „International Journal of Prosthodontics“
I was involved in the organization of numerous scientific conferences, both national and foreign.
I have received many prizes, awards and distinctions.
Throughout all my professional life I treated patients both at a Dental School and in privately run dental surgeries, at present in the „Candeo“ Dental Centre.
Professor Wiesław Hędzelek, DDS, PhD
The list of scientific, research and organizational achievements
Doctoral dissertation:
„Evaluation of chosen control and correction methods of dental prostheses articulation“, 1979
Dissertation for the position of an Assistant Professor:
„Examination of centric occlusion by the gnatosonic method“, 1995
