Prof. Emeritus Crispian Scully University College London, UK

Professor Crispian Scully sadly passed away in March 2017. His incredible contributions to dentistry with such focus and determination will not be forgotten. He is survived by his wife and daughter.... read more

Professor Scully was a Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Oral Health-General Health; King James IV Professor at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Emeritus Professor, University College London (UCL). He was a Specialist in Oral Medicine, in Special Care Dentistry and in Oral Surgery. He was a Founder member of European Association for Oral Medicine and a Founder member of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences.

Professor Scully was an Editor of Oral Diseases (which he founded), and Medicina Oral, Associate Editor of Journal of Investigative and Clinical Dentistry and is on the Editorial Boards of Acta-Oto-Laryngologica; Dental Update. He founded and was Editor of Oral Oncology.

Professor Scully has presented continuing education programmes throughout the world and has published over 1000 scholarly works.

Professor Scully qualified in Dentistry at the University of London in 1968 and trained for a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (1971: first class honours). He qualified in Medicine (1974) before undertaking research as a Research Fellow funded by the Medical Research Council. His Doctor of Philosophy, in Pathology, was awarded in 1979 and he was appointed Lecturer and then Senior Lecturer in Oral Medicine and Immunology at the University of Glasgow, obtaining the Fellowship in Dental Surgery (Glasgow) in 1979. In 1982 he was appointed to the Chair and Head of Department of Oral Medicine, Surgery and Pathology at the University of Bristol. He was appointed Dean from 1985-1990. He gained his Membership in Pathology (1983), Doctorate in Medicine (1987) and Mastership in Dental Surgery (1988) on the basis of research publications, the Fellowship in Oral Medicine (Ireland) by examination in 1989, the Fellowship in Dental Surgery (England) and Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists in 1992 and the Fellowship in Dental Surgery (Edinburgh) and Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 1998. He was appointed Dean, Director of Studies and Research, and Professor of Oral Medicine, Pathology and Microbiology at the Eastman Dental Institute, University of London in 1994 and was re-appointed for 2 further 5 year terms at UCL from 1999 and 2004. He was Clinical Director of the Eastman 1995-1996. Professor Scully was Co-director of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for oral health, disability and culture 1998-2008. He is immediate past-President of the International Academy of Oral Oncology.

Previously he was honorary consultant at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Dental Hospital, Bristol Royal Infirmary and Dental Hospital, the Royal London Hospital, the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre Oxford, the Horizon Trust St Albans and the Royal Free Hospital, London. Internationally, Professor Scully was President of the European Association of Oral Medicine; Chairman of the Chemoprevention Group of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer; member of the working group on Oral Health of the Surgeon-General (USA); and member of the Steering Group of the European College of Dentistry.

In the UK, Professor Scully was a Consultant Advisor in Dental Research to two Chief Medical Officers; Chairman of the Central Examining Board for Hygienists; President and Council member of the British Society for Oral Medicine; and Chairman of the Joint Advisory Committee for Additional Dental Specialties.

His main research interests were in microbiology and immunology in relation to oral disease. Interests in oral cancer have been predominantly in the epidemiology and aetiopathogenesis of oral squamous carcinoma, and he was the first to show a rise in oral cancer in Britain, and the possible associations with viruses and sexual transmission (since proven). He was also involved in health services research on aspects of viral infections and immune defects, and was instrumental in heightening awareness of the importance of infection control occupational hazards.