Overview
Background
Dr Sobia Zafar is a specialist paediatric dentist, clinical senior lecturer and the discipline lead in paediatric dentistry at The University of Queensland. She also holds an affiliated position of Senior Research Fellow at the Child Health Research Centre. She is the current president of the Australia and New Zealand Society of Paediatric Dentistry (ANZSPD) Qld section and the councillor for the International Association of Dental Research (IADR) ANZ for Brisbane section.
Sobia completed her DClinDent and PhD from the University of Otago, New Zealand. Her research and clinical interests are in dental education, digital dentistry, and children's oral health, including those with special needs. She is frequently an invited speaker nationally and internationally on these subjects. Sobia has over 100 publications, comprising full journal papers, a book chapter and published abstracts, in national and international high-quality peer-reviewed journals. Sobia has successfully supervised 40 Honours research students, five HDR (PhD and MPhil) and two DClinDent students to completion. Sobia was the winner of the "Best Research Supervisor Award" for Higher Degree Research students in 2022 and also in 2023.
She is a passionate teacher involved in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching at UQ and in the wider dental profession in Australia and overseas. She has also conducted multiple hands-on courses locally and overseas for the Australian Dental Association Qld branch. Sobia has received numerous teaching awards and fellowships in recognition of her contributions, including from UQ the HABS Commendation for Substantive Contributions to Student Learning (2020), HABS Programs that Enhance Learning (APEL) Commendation (2021), HABS Commendation for Substantive Contributions to Student Learning Award (2022), and a UQ Teaching Excellence Award for APEL Commendation (2022). In 2022, she gained a Fellowship from the Faculty of Dental Trainers of the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh, UK, as peer recognition for her accomplishments in dental education. She has recently received the Excellence in Health Professional Education Award from the Australian and New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) and Flinders University (2023).
Sobia is a highly recognised and respected community leader. Sobia is involved with various dental charities, including the Australian Dental Health Foundation, the Esesson Foundation, and the Turbans4Australia, to provide emergency and essential dental care to underprivileged children (refugees, asylum seekers, those with special needs, and from disadvantaged communities) in the Brisbane and Gold Coast regions. Her efforts as a community leader and leading health professional have been recognised with awards within UQ (the 2022 LeadHers Rise Community Award) and at the national level (the 2022 Appreciation Award from Turbans4Australia). As recognition from her dental peers, she was granted a Fellowship of the Pierre Fauchard Academy.
Availability
- Associate Professor Sobia Zafar is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Higher Education Academy, Higher Education Academy
- International College of Dentists, International College of Dentists
- Member, Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons
Research impacts
Awards
- 2025 Excellence in Teaching, Research, Supervision, Service and Philanthropy Award, Australia and New Zealand Society of Paediatric Dentistry Qld (ANZSPDQ)
- 2024 Distinguished Service Award - Australian Dental Association Qld (ADAQ)
- 2023 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science Award Finalist - Outstanding early career researchers
- 2023 Best Rsearch Supervisor Award - Winner - UQ SoD Research Day
- 2023 Excellence in Health Professional Education Award - The Flinders University - ANZAHPE
- 2022 HABS Commendation for Substantive Contributions to Student Learning Award (Early Career Researcher),The University of Queensland
- 2022 LeadHers Community Leadership Award, The University of Queensland
- 2022 Appreciation Award for Community Work, Turbans4Australia, Green and Gold Charity, Australia
- 2022 UQ Techaing Excellence Award for Programs that Enhance Learning Commendation, The University of Queensland
- 2022 Best Research Supervisor Award, UQ School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland
- 2021 HABS Award for Programs that Enhance Learning Commendation, The University of Queensland
- 2020 HABS Commendation for Substantive Contributions to Student Learning Award, The University of Queensland
- 2015 Awarded Best student presenter prize at Annual Research Day, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, New Zealand
- 2015 Winner IADR NZ division Travel Award, University of Otago, New Zealand
- 2012 Awarded Runner up Colgate senior category IADR ANZ Division, University of Otago, New Zealand
- 2012 Awarded Best student presenter prize at Annual Research Day, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, New Zealand
- 2010 University of Otago Doctoral Scholarship, New Zealand
- 2007 Awarded Best Junior Researcher prize, University of Cape Town, South Africa
- 2001 Gold Medal in Oral Pathology (National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan)
- 2001 Distinction in Oral Pathology (National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan)
- 2000 Gold Medal in Oral Medicine & Periodontology (National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan)
- 1999 Gold Medal in Dental Anatomy, Histology &Tooth Morphology (National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan)
Professional Memberships
- 2020 - present The Australian Collaborative Education Network Limited (ACEN)
- 2020- present International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT)
- 2020- present The Australian Collaborative Education Network Limited (ACEN)
- 2016- present Australian Dental Association (ADA)
- 2015- present Australia & New Zealand Society of Paediatric Dentistry (ANZSPD)
- 2012- present International Association of Dental Research (IADR)
Media
- 2022 - UQ News - Link: https://tinyurl.com/28mu7cxn
- 2022 - Bite Magazine - Link: https://www.bitemagazine.com.au/virtual-teaching-at-australian-uni-improves-dental-reality/
- 2022 - Australian Muslim Achievement Awards - Finalists and Winners - Mission of Hope, Australia - Link: https://missionofhope.org.au/amaa-2022-finalists-and-winners/
- 2020 - Dental Mirror - ADAQ Spring Issue - https://adaq.informz.net/adaq/data/images/Dental%20Mirror/ADAQ_Mirror_Sep2020_web-compressed.pdf
- 2019 - Dental Mirror - ADAQ December issue Link: https://indd.adobe.com/view/5d9fb8f1-c605-4ddd-a710-6b6eac77046d
Works
Search Professor Sobia Zafar’s works on UQ eSpace
2022
Journal Article
Dental trauma simulation training using four splinting models: a cross-sectional study
Zafar, Sobia and Peters, Christine (2022). Dental trauma simulation training using four splinting models: a cross-sectional study. Dental Traumatology, 38 (6), 519-525. doi: 10.1111/edt.12772
2022
Conference Publication
Paediatric Dentistry at UQ SoD – Advances in Research
Zafar, Sobia , Hogerheyde, Thomas and Lai, Yvonne (2022). Paediatric Dentistry at UQ SoD – Advances in Research . School of Dentistry seminar series, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 10 June 2022.
2022
Journal Article
Identifying trends of percutaneous injuries at an Australian dental school
Huynh, Richard, Du, Deborah, Im, Jun Ho, Zachar, Jessica and Zafar, Sobia (2022). Identifying trends of percutaneous injuries at an Australian dental school. International Dental Journal, 72 (3), 308-314. doi: 10.1016/j.identj.2021.05.001
2022
Journal Article
Decontamination practices of paediatric crowns: a systematic review
Hogerheyde, T., Walsh, L. J. and Zafar, S. (2022). Decontamination practices of paediatric crowns: a systematic review. European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry, 23 (4), 527-535. doi: 10.1007/s40368-022-00714-w
2022
Journal Article
Parental and training coaches' knowledge and attitude towards dental trauma management of children
Tian, Juliana, Lim, Jonathan Jun Jie, Moh, Francis Kim Cai, Siddiqi, Allauddin, Zachar, Jessica and Zafar, Sobia (2022). Parental and training coaches' knowledge and attitude towards dental trauma management of children. Australian Dental Journal, 67 (S1), S31-S40. doi: 10.1111/adj.12913
2022
Journal Article
The effects of decontamination protocols on the aesthetic, morphological, and material composition of preformed paediatric crowns.
Hogerheyde, Thomas, Walsh, Laurence J. and Zafar, Sobia (2022). The effects of decontamination protocols on the aesthetic, morphological, and material composition of preformed paediatric crowns.. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, 32 (3), 401-408. doi: 10.1111/ipd.12919
2022
Journal Article
Size estimation of unerupted canines and premolars using various independent variables: a systematic review
S Abaid, S Zafar, E Kruger and M Tennant (2022). Size estimation of unerupted canines and premolars using various independent variables: a systematic review. Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics, 84 (3), 1-14. doi: 10.1007/s00056-022-00392-9
2022
Journal Article
Assessing the Pedological Impact of Local Anesthesia Dental Simulator as Serious Game
Zafar, Sobia, Mladenovic, Kristina, Al Qahtani, Sakher, Puranik, Chaitanya and Mladenovic, Rasa (2022). Assessing the Pedological Impact of Local Anesthesia Dental Simulator as Serious Game. Applied Sciences, 12 (7) 3285, 1-9. doi: 10.3390/app12073285
2022
Journal Article
Enablers and barriers in dental attendance in Rett syndrome: an international observational study
Yvonne Yee Lok Lai, Jenny Anne Downs, Kingsley Wong, Sobia Zafar, Laurence James Walsh and Helen Margaret Leonard (2022). Enablers and barriers in dental attendance in Rett syndrome: an international observational study. Special Care in Dentistry, 42 (6) e12712, 565-574. doi: 10.1111/scd.12712
2022
Journal Article
Effectiveness of technology-enhanced teaching methods of undergraduate dental skills for local anaesthesia administration during COVID-19 era: students’ perception
Mladenovic, Rasa, AlQahtani, Sakher, Mladenovic, Kristina, Bukumiric, Zoran and Zafar, Sobia (2022). Effectiveness of technology-enhanced teaching methods of undergraduate dental skills for local anaesthesia administration during COVID-19 era: students’ perception. BMC Oral Health, 22 (1) 40, 40. doi: 10.1186/s12903-022-02077-6
2022
Journal Article
Understanding the building blocks of the paediatric dentistry curriculum for undergraduate students in an Australian university
Kaur, H., Mohanasundaram, D., Hossain, N., Calache, H. and Zafar, S. (2022). Understanding the building blocks of the paediatric dentistry curriculum for undergraduate students in an Australian university. European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry, 23 (2), 317-324. doi: 10.1007/s40368-021-00688-1
2022
Conference Publication
Are parents seeking oral health-related information from the parent-held-child-health-record book?
Zafar, S., Nahal, G., Tasneem, R., Vo, G. and Peters, C.I. (2022). Are parents seeking oral health-related information from the parent-held-child-health-record book?. 61st Scientific Meeting of the International Association of Dental Research (IADR) ANZ, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 26-28 September 2022.
2022
Journal Article
The two-way link between diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease: medical- healthcare professionals’ clinical practice
Siddiqi, Allauddin and Zafar, Sobia (2022). The two-way link between diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease: medical- healthcare professionals’ clinical practice. Biomedical Journal of Scientific and Technical Research, 41 (3), 32793-32800. doi: 10.26717/BJSTR.2022.41.006617
2022
Journal Article
The applicability of the Tanaka and Johnston analysis in a contemporary Western Australian population
Abaid, Sidra, Zafar, Sobia, Kruger, Estie and Tennant, Marc (2022). The applicability of the Tanaka and Johnston analysis in a contemporary Western Australian population. Australasian Orthodontic Journal, 38 (1), 153-161. doi: 10.21307/aoj-2022.0018
2022
Conference Publication
Investigation into metal composition of oral piercings and rate of metal dissolution under acidic challenge
Masood, M., Walsh, L.J. and Zafar S. (2022). Investigation into metal composition of oral piercings and rate of metal dissolution under acidic challenge. UQ School of Dentistry Annual Research Day 2022, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 29 July 2022.
2021
Conference Publication
Paediatric dentistry training: Building or breaking dental students’ confidence?
Mohanasundaram, D., Kaur, H., Hossain, N., Calache, H. and Zafar, S. (2021). Paediatric dentistry training: Building or breaking dental students’ confidence?. 28th Congress of the International Association of Paediatric Dentistry, Online, 10-13 June 2021.
2021
Journal Article
A retrospective analysis of non-sharps-related injuries in a dental school
Jeon, Soyeon, Chong, Mark Jeffrey, Jin, Gwanghyun, Walsh, Laurence J., Zachar, Jessica and Zafar, Sobia (2021). A retrospective analysis of non-sharps-related injuries in a dental school. International Dental Journal, 72 (4), 1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.identj.2021.08.055
2021
Conference Publication
Evaluation of parental and training coaches knowledge and attitude towards dental trauma management in children: A questionnaire based cross sectional survey
Tian, J., Lim, J. J. J., Moh, C., Zafar, S. and Zachar, J. (2021). Evaluation of parental and training coaches knowledge and attitude towards dental trauma management in children: A questionnaire based cross sectional survey. 28th Congress of the International Association of Paediatric Dentistry, Online, 10-13 June 2021.
2021
Conference Publication
The effects of disinfection and sterilisation protocols on preformed paediatric crowns
Hogerheyde, Thomas, Walsh, Lawrence and Zafar, Sobia (2021). The effects of disinfection and sterilisation protocols on preformed paediatric crowns. 28th Congress of the International Association of Paediatric Dentistry, Online, 10-13 June 2021.
2021
Conference Publication
Associations between oral parafunction in Rett syndrome and snoring: An observational study
Lai, Y., Downs, J., Wong, K., Walsh, L. J., Leonard, H. and Zafar, S. (2021). Associations between oral parafunction in Rett syndrome and snoring: An observational study. 28th Congress of the International Association of Paediatric Dentistry, Online, 10-13 June 2021.
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Sobia Zafar is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Ergonomics in Dentistry
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Laurence Walsh
-
Doctor Philosophy
Assessment of the effects of professionally applied Silver Diamine Fluoride on early childhood caries
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Laurence Walsh, Associate Professor Jaya Seneviratne
-
Master Philosophy
Impact of Barriers for Perception Dental Care Services of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Mothers on Australian Healthcare System
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Asaduzzaman Khan, Professor Lauren Ball, Dr Diep Ha
-
Master Philosophy
Exploring Factors in Dentists' Decision-Making in Vital Pulp Therapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ove Peters
-
Doctor Philosophy
Therapeutic Efficacy of Dental Analgesia through a Poly Light-Emitting Diode (LED) for dental procedures.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Laurence Walsh, Professor Peter Reher
-
Master Philosophy
Virtual reality teaching and its effect on veterinary students' practical outcomes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Frances Shapter, Dr Ben Wood, Dr Allison Stewart
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Master Philosophy
Virtual reality teaching and its effect on veterinary students' practical outcomes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ben Wood, Dr Frances Shapter, Dr Allison Stewart
Completed supervision
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2024
Master Philosophy
The impact of oral piercings: an in vivo and in vitro study
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Laurence Walsh
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating oral health and its impacts in Rett syndrome- stepping-stones to achieving a better quality of life
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Laurence Walsh
-
2023
Master Philosophy
The effects of decontamination practices and diet on preformed paediatric crowns, and their biocompatibility in the oral cavity
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Laurence Walsh
-
2024
Master Philosophy
Exploring Factors in Decision-Making in Vital Pulp Therapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ove Peters
-
2024
Master Philosophy
Barriers to Widespread Endodontic Practice Amongst General Dental Practitioners in Queensland, Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ove Peters
Media
Enquiries
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