1945–2017

Professor Crispian Scully, Emeritus Professor of Oral Medicine of UCL and past Dean and Director of Dental Research and Studies of UCL Eastman Dental Institute, died on 17 March 2017, aged 71 years. Professor Scully was a unique individual who significantly impacted upon very many aspects of oral healthcare and allied research and education.

Professor Scully was a graduate of the Royal London Dental School (gaining honours in BDS and a 1st class BSc in biochemistry) and honours in MB BS when studying in Guy's Hospital London. Following completion of PhD studies as an MRC Research Fellow at Guy's, Crispian was appointed lecturer and later senior lecturer in the University of Glasgow Dental School.

Following his appointment as Professor of Oral Medicine in the University of Bristol Dental School in 1982, he created a department that became renowned for research in oral medicine, oral pathology and oral oncology. He helped lead a redevelopment of aspects of the undergraduate curriculum, secured the building of new facilities for the school's education, research and clinical care, as well as establishing Masters and PhD programmes.

His appointment as Dean in 1993 led to a reinvigoration of the Eastman Dental Institute which included the appointment of substantial numbers of new research and teaching posts, refurbishment of research, library and IT facilities, the establishment of new MSc and PhD programmes and an expansion of continued professional development (CPD) courses. Of note he established the first unit dedicated to the management of adults with special needs that provided such patients with essential care as well driving as the development of the UK's first MSc in this subject. The impact of such change was significant – research outputs and income rose substantially, the educational experience and opportunities of postgraduates improved and broadened, and more patients than ever (often with complex needs) were able to receive high quality dental care. Such outcomes, driven by Crispian, led to the Institute being welcomed into UCL in 1999 and receiving the Queens Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in 2003. He was appointed Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2000 New Year Honours.

Crispian authored over 1,100 publications of all types. His research was far reaching – for example, he and colleagues were the first to establish the role of HPV in oral cancer development, to describe the impact of HIV disease upon oral health and to demonstrate the effectiveness of new therapies for a wide spectrum of oral mucosal diseases. His review articles were renowned for being extremely thorough and, as a consequence, were and are cited innumerably. He published over 40 textbooks as author, co-author or editor, several of which he regularly updated and are considered the pre-eminent subject texts (eg Scully's medical problems in dentistry, Oral and maxillofacial medicine, and Oral and maxillofacial diseases) and led to the award of publication prizes. He wrote texts directed to all members of the healthcare team – dental hygienists and therapists, nurses, clinical trainees and specialists – aided by his embracing of new publication technologies as they emerged.

His publication acumen are further demonstrated by his creation of Oral Oncology and co-creation of Oral Diseases, both journals now considered to be amongst the best in their subject areas. He held senior positions in many national and international specialty organisations including Presidencies of the British Society for Oral Medicine (on two occasions), the European Association for Oral Medicine and the International Association for Oral Oncology. He was Consultant Advisor in Dental Research to two Chief Medical Officers in England, a founder member of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences, a member of the National Centre for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) working group on oral cancer, and a Trustee of the Mouth Cancer Foundation. He held visiting chairs to universities in the UK and abroad and had the unique distinction of holding Fellowships of all Royal Colleges of Surgeons of the UK and Ireland.

His industry, impact and skills are reflected in the award of University Doctorates (Athens, Granada, Helsinki, Pretoria), Medals (Helsinki, Granada, Santiago de Compostela) and many awards from across the globe including a Fellowship of UCL.

Crispian Scully was unique. There is unlikely to be anyone in the near future in dentistry with such energy and focus. He was ambitious, caring, complex, driven, insightful and forthright. These, and many other characteristics, led him achieve so much that has benefited students, patients and the public. Throughout this professional journey Professor Scully was supported and guided by his wife, Zoe, and daughter, Frances. It is thus fitting that those who have benefited from Professor Scully's life's work should, as we do now, thank them for the love and care that they provided to a man who will be greatly missed.