Meet Professor Stephen Challacombe (Guy’s, Dentistry, 1968)

Stephen Challacombe, the Martin Rushton Professor of Oral Medicine at King’s and former Consultant in Diagnostic Microbiology & Immunology for Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, has devoted over 40 years to teaching and mentoring. He has guided more than 5,000 clinical students, numerous PhD candidates, and trainees, while also contributing significantly to various King’s committees. Stephen was awarded the Helen Hudson Award, which honours King’s alumni who have made an outstanding impact on the university or alumni community.

As a globally recognised researcher, Stephen is committed to providing oral healthcare to underserved populations. He co-founded King’s Global Health and has taken his expertise abroad, addressing the oral health needs of schoolchildren in Sierra Leone and investigating COVID-19 health disparities in India.

Known for his dedication to healthcare equity and service to King’s, Stephen has served as a past Chair of the King’s Alumni Association and is one of the founders of King’s Sports Hall of Fame. A passionate sports fan, he also offers inspiring advice to graduates: “You can make the world a better place! Every contribution to reducing social inequalities, however small, will help more people than you imagine.”

Sources:

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/2023-2024-kings-distinguished-alumni-award-winners-announced