King’s College London has appointed its first dually-qualified female surgeon as a Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Professor Kathy Fan is dual-qualified, meaning she is qualified as a maxillofacial surgeon for both medical and dental procedures.
Maxillofacial surgeons are trained to handle a wide variety of conditions and injuries that affect the head, neck, mouth, jaw, and face.
Professor Fan, who is also a council member of the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (BAOMS) said: “The award of my Chair is important recognition for my specialty, my work in the NHS, the university, nationally and internationally.
“But the most significant aspect of my appointment as the first female in this position is to show younger oral and maxillofacial surgeons that everything is possible.
“Do not to let your ambitions be limited by perceptions or prejudice.
“I believe the principle of ‘if you can see it, you can be it’ is very important.”
BAOMS President Austen Smith said: “To become a Professor in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery with dual medical and dental qualification, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, requires many years of clinical, academic and teaching activity.
“In the UK, there are less than a dozen Professors of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and until Kathy Fan was awarded her King’s College Chair, this group was all male.
“This is also a first for our specialty in the UK.
“I want this to be an inspiration to all Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery trainees of every gender, race and ethnic background.”