New Director of the UCL Eastman Dental Institute

Links:

ucl.ac.uk/eastman/about/departments-units-and-academic-staff" target="_self">Professor Porter

UCL EDI

Professor Stephen Porter has been appointed Director of the UCL Eastman Dental Institute (EDI), with effect from 1 October 2008. Professor Porter is currently Professor of Oral Medicine and Academic Head of the UCL EDI's Division of Maxillofacial Diagnostic Medical & Surgical Sciences.

Professor Porter has an outstanding track record as an eminent researcher, clinician and educator in the oral healthcare sciences. His research centres upon the oral aspects of viral infection and the aetiology of potentially malignant oral disease. His clinical interests are the management of complex immunologically mediated and potentially malignant disease of the mouth and salivary glands.

As a dental educator he established the pioneering MSc in Special Needs Dentistry and has introduced certificate- and diploma-level programmes for the study of special care dentistry. He was pivotal in implementing the MSc in Oral Medicine when he first joined the UCL EDI in 1993 and has a keen interest in developing electronic teaching in aspects of oral health.

Professor Porter graduated in dentistry and biochemistry from the University of Glasgow.  His clinical career in oral medicine began at the University of Bristol where he graduated in medicine and was awarded higher research degrees in medicine (MD) and immunology (PhD). He is a Fellow in Dental Surgery of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and England.

Professor Porter joined the UCL EDI as Head of the newly created Oral Medicine Unit and Senior Lecturer in Oral Medicine. Under his leadership the clinical unit has become one of the most prolific of its kind internationally. He has made a remarkable personal contribution to research in the field of oral medicine having published more than 400 scholarly works, including original research papers, review articles, editorials, textbooks and computer-based works.

Professor Porter commented: "This is a very challenging position as, thanks to the leadership of Crispian Scully and the industry of its staff, the UCL EDI has a high international standing. The task now is to ensure that this is not only maintained, but enhanced. I strongly believe that our staff have the talent and skills to reach further goals in oral health research, education and clinical care."

Professor Porter will take over from Professor Crispian Scully CBE, who is standing down after 15 years as Dean and Director of Studies & Research.

To find out more about Professor Porter or the UCL EDI, use the links at the top of this article.

Image: Professor Porter