Professor Ahmed Suleiman, Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Khartoum was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the RCSI Faculty of Dentistry in recognition of his work in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

The fellowship was awarded in absentia during the summer conferring ceremony last week at the RCSI campus on 26 York Street, Dublin where the Faculty also conferred 707 new Fellows, Members and Diplomates.

The Honorary Fellowship of the Faculty is the highest honour that can be bestowed on an individual and is reserved for those who are considered to have made an outstanding contribution to the profession of dentistry or a related field.

Professor Suleiman has had a distinguished career in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery in Sudan, holding the position of a professor at the University of Khartoum. His expertise lies in the study and management of oral cancer and precancerous lesions, and he has established a renowned Surgical Unit at the Khartoum Teaching Dental Hospital for cancer management.

Professor Suleiman studied at the University of Khartoum, graduating as a dentist in 1978. Later, he obtained an MSc in oral surgery from the Eastman Dental Institute and a PhD from King's College of Medicine and Dentistry, both affiliated with the University of London. He holds fellowships from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the Sudan Medical Specialisation Board.

Professor Suleiman has also published over 70 publications, including a book titled Oral Cancer in the Sudan: Clinical Presentation and Risk Factors. One of Professor Suleiman’s remarkable achievements is the establishment of a leading oral cancer management clinic at Khartoum Teaching Dental Hospital, which serves as the primary referral centre for oral cancer cases in Sudan. As the Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, he played a pivotal role in negotiating and establishing an examination centre for the Faculty of Dentistry, RCSI.

Professor Chris Lynch, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry RCSI said: “We are delighted to present Professor Suleiman with this Honorary Fellowship from the RCSI Faculty of Dentistry. With this award we are recognising his exceptional contributions to oral and maxillofacial surgery, his academic leadership, and his dedication to improving oral healthcare in Sudan.”