Dr. Ashith Acharya @ KLE VK Institute of Dental Sciences, Belagavi, Karnataka

Dr. Acharya was invited by the department of dental education at KLE VK Institute of Dental Sciences, Belagavi, on 23 January 2025 as part of their regular faculty development programme. His lecture was entitled “Bridging Dental Sciences & Crime Investigations — Forensic Odontology is a Long Arm of Justice”. Post-lecture he had an extensive interaction with postgraduate students of the Department of Oral Pathology on a wide range of potential research areas. He also offered comments and guidance on their ongoing research initiatives.

Figure re. KLE VK Institute of Dental Sciences: The invited lecture was part of the department of dental education’s regular faculty development programmes for PGs and teaching staff of KLE VK Institute of Dental Sciences. Dr. Acharya was privileged to have Principal Dr. Prof. Alka Kale in attendance for his entire presentation. Later, he provided useful inputs on research in forensic odontology to oral pathology postgraduates.

Conduct of Classroom Contact Programme of Fellowship in Forensic Odontology, Dharwad, Karnataka

The fourth batch of SDM University’s fellowship in forensic odontology had its classroom contact programme from 10-15 February 2025. The classroom sessions gave in-depth skills in an array of forensic odontology procedures such as dental age estimation, bite mark investigation, forensic dental anthropology and comparative dental identification. This was followed by an examination which included MCQs and case-based analyses. The enrolled dentists were welcomed by Principal of SDM College of Dental Sciences, Dr. BalRam Naik in the company of Dr. Ashith Acharya who serves as the primary resource faculty. The dentist students also interacted with Vice Principals Dr. Anand Tavargeri and Dr. Lekha KP separately.

Dr. Ashith Acharya @ Yenepoya Dental College, Mangaluru, Karnataka

Dr. Acharya was invited to conduct a training session in digital analyses of bite mark evidence on 19-20 February 2025 as part of the value-added course in forensic odontology offered by Yenepoya Dental College, Mangaluru. With about 20 dentists and dental house-surgeons participating in the course, Dr. Acharya also served as a ‘Guest of Honour’ at the programme’s valedictory ceremony.

Figure re. Yenepoya Dental College Value Added Course: Dr. Acharya was invited to conduct a two-day session on digital analysis of bite mark evidence at Yenepoya Dental College as part of their Value-Added Course in forensic odontology on 19-20 February 2025. He also served as a Guest of Honor in the valedictory programme and is seen in the presence of Registrar of Yenepoya University (Dr. Gangadhara Somayaji), as well as Principal (Dr. Laxmikanth Chatra), Vice Principal (Dr. Hasan Sarfaraz), Dean (Dr. Sham Bhat) of Yenepoya Dental College, and faculty members of the Centre for Forensic Odontology at the college Dr. Sudeendra Prabhu and Syed Miqdad.