Empowering Smiles: Exploring the Work of UWA Fogarty Alumni Jee-Yun Leung in Special Needs Dentistry 

In our ‘Alumni Stories’ series, we celebrate the remarkable achievements of our UWA Fogarty alumni who are making a tangible difference in their communities. Dr. Jee-Yun Leung, a University of Western Australia (UWA) graduate and a proud Fogarty Alumni, stands as an example of this dedication through her work in Special Needs Dentistry (SND). 

As the only Specialist in SND in Western Australia, Dr. Leung has made it her mission to address the oral health disparities faced by individuals with special needs. Working as a Consultant at Fiona Stanley Hospital, she provides essential care to patients with complex medical conditions and disabilities, all while actively contributing to dental education and research. 

Reflecting on her journey, Dr. Leung credits her time at UWA and her experience as a Fogarty Scholar for shaping her career path. “Going through the leadership program, listening to inspiring talks, and networking with leaders from various community sectors was formative,” she says. “It translated my sense of social responsibility into a realisation that I, too, could aspire to become a leader in improving the oral health system for persons living with special needs.” 

Dr. Leung’s interest in Special Needs Dentistry was sparked early. “My career choices have always been driven by a strong belief in social responsibility and a desire to tackle the oral health inequalities faced by those living with special needs,” she explains. Her passion for this field originated from volunteering at a camp for children with special needs in high school and working part-time at an Australian Red Cross respite centre during her undergraduate studies. “I was confronted by the challenges faced by those living with special needs and their carers and found great reward in turning compassion into action.” 

It wasn’t until her fourth year of dental school that Dr. Leung discovered Special Needs Dentistry as a specialty. “I didn’t know SND was a specialty until then because there were no qualified Specialists in WA at the time,” she recalls. A chance encounter at a Dental Public Health conference in Sydney led her to explore the field further, undertaking placements in SND Departments in Sydney and Melbourne. This experience solidified her passion for combining her professional skills with her commitment to helping those living with special needs. 

After graduating from UWA in 2012, Dr. Leung worked in various dental settings, including regional, metropolitan, government, and private practices. Her diverse experience provided a comprehensive understanding of the dental needs of the community, particularly those with intellectual disabilities and the elderly.  

In 2017, she moved to London to pursue a Masters in Special Care Dentistry at the Eastman Dental Institute, University College London. “The UK is a global leader in SND clinical care and public health research,” she notes. “It was fascinating working in a country where SND is so established, and learning evidence-based guidelines and public health policy.” This was followed up by completing specialty training in Adelaide, to understand the Australian health system relevant to SND and build a local network. 

Upon returning to Perth in 2022, Dr. Leung took on her current role at Fiona Stanley Hospital. She is spearheading the expansion of the SND service, participating in the Head & Neck Cancer Multidisciplinary Team, and teaching UWA dental students. She serves on the State Oral Health Advisory Committee, the principle advisory group responsible for the provision of expert advice for the WA Government Chief Dental Office, to contribute to and influence the development and implementation of oral health policy within Western Australia. Additionally, she is actively involved with the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Special Needs Dentistry. 

Despite the rewarding nature of the sector, Dr. Leung explains this field can have many challenges. “There are many barriers to accessing dental care for people living with special needs,” she explains. These include a lack of patient and carer awareness about the importance of oral care, dentists unwilling to treat people with disabilities, and long waiting lists for specialised SND services. “These challenges can lead to situational crises, such as when strong, heavy and tall individuals with severe non-verbal autism develop aggressive and self-harming behaviours as a way of communicating their dental pain caused by untreated decay. This overwhelms their carers resulting in risks to patient and staff safety” she says. To address these issues, Dr. Leung wears multiple hats—clinician, advocate, public health leader, and educator. She is passionate about establishing quality SND services in WA and educating future generations of dentists to feel comfortable treating patients with special needs. 

Dr. Leung received an Australian Dental Research Foundation Grant focusing on oral health delivery systems for people with special needs. “As a single clinician, I can only see so many patients,” she says, “To see improvement on a population level, we need system-wide changes and clear public health policies.” Her research has highlighted the need for a community-based approach to SND, with specialists providing care for the most complex cases and supporting generalists in treating those with mild to moderate needs. “We need a multi-faceted and multidisciplinary approach that integrates the best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values,” she emphasises. 

Looking ahead, Dr. Leung envisions a future where SND services in WA are better coordinated and accessible. “We need to raise awareness of SND, support general dentists to feel confident and see the reward in treating people living with special needs.’’ she says. She hopes to continue her work in public-sector dental service delivery and contribute to the education and training of future specialists.  

“SND is an incredibly rewarding and intellectually challenging field that meets a significantly underserved need in our population,” she says. “I hope to continue supporting other dentists and expanding our profession’s knowledge base to improve outcomes for these patients.” 

For aspiring dental professionals interested in SND, Dr. Leung offers simple but urgent advice: “Get in touch! We desperately need more of an SND workforce in Western Australia.” She also emphasises the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing the oral health needs of individuals with special needs. “Interdisciplinary collaboration is essential because these patients do not have isolated dental issues,” she explains. “We need to work closely with other healthcare professionals to ensure that dental treatment aligns with overall treatment goals.” 

Dr. Leung's dedication to enhancing the lives of individuals with special needs is an inspiration to future healthcare professionals. Her work in Special Needs Dentistry reflects her strong commitment to social responsibility and offers hope for a more inclusive healthcare system. 

For further information or to connect with Dr Leung, please feel free to reach out to the Foundation at info@fogartyfoundation.org.au