Alumni testimonial - Professor Hesham Khalil Almoallim

I chose to study at Eastman because of its reputation as an excellent Postgraduate Institute. I took an MSc in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery then completed a PhD on the interaction of Staphylococcus epidermidis with abiotic and biotic surfaces: the role in bone infection.

In all I spent eight years at the Eastman and it was a great period of my life. The environment made it easy for me to cope with all difficulties faced during my stay, I was feeling like I was home.

My favourite memory is my PhD viva day when my wife and kids were waiting for me outside while I was defending my thesis. It’s a great feeling when you achieve your goals after many years of hard work.

During the last 10 years, since I left the UK, I have been working very hard and been the founder and the dean of two new dental colleges in Saudi Arabia

I have published more than 40 research papers in international journals; translated the British book of Peter Banks (on fractures of the facial skeleton) into the Arabic language; been involved in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students at different universities.

Still I have more plans to serve the community and the profession and I have started to conduct local anesthesia courses nationally and internationally. The most recent course was at two universities in India.

Studying at Eastman helped me in my career. I learnt a lot at the Eastman and was able to apply the principles, morals, ethics and science I got from my supervisors and the Eastman Staff to all my plans.

I was invited at the beginning of 2017 to give a presentation about the career achievement and it was great to meet all the people again at the Eastman.