Prof. S.R. Prabhu – Mangalorean Star
Mangalorean.com is proud to introduce Professor Soorebettu R. Prabhu, BDS; MDS; FDS RCS (Edin); FDS REC (Eng); FFDS RCS (Ireland); FDSRCPS (Glasgow); M O MED RCS (Edin); MFGDP RCS (UK); FICD (USA), the only Indian born dental specialist to receive Fellowships from all four Royal Colleges in the UK and Ireland. It is indeed a rare honor for any one to be conferred three Fellowships Ad Eundum. He is the Professor of Oral Medicine School of Dentistry and Associate Dean Faculty of Medical Sciences at The University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago.
Professor Prabhu is currently the Associate Dean for special initiatives at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago. This involves responsibility for international collaborations. In this capacity, Professor Prabhu has been instrumental in getting the dental teaching programs in Trinidad recognized by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh for the Membership (MFDS RCS) training programs and examinations. Professor Prabhu is also the regional (Caribbean) dental advisor for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
Faculty of Medical Sciences in Trinidad comprises Medical, Dental, Veterinary, Nursing and Pharmacy Schools. Professor Prabhu is engaged in initiating innovative programs for these schools.
In his own right, Professor S R Prabhu has earned a very important place in world’s dental literature and academic field. Although left India in the late 1970s, Professor Prabhu is in constant touch with dental and medical colleagues in India. He has often been consulted on matters of dental school administration and academic issues in dental training programs.
Professor Prabhu possesses commendable interpersonal communication skills and maintains cordial relationships with those he interacts with. One of Professor Prabhu’s strong qualities has been that he respects others’ views, religion and cultural values. He has been instrumental in establishing collaborative relationships in medical education between the University of the West Indies and Manipal Academy of Higher Education in the 1990s. He has also been responsible for establishing links between MAJU Institute (run by the Malaysian Indian Congress) and the Medical Faculty of the University of the West Indies in Trinidad. In the 1990s Professor Prabhu was instrumental in establishing a link between The University of the West Indies School of Medicine in Trinidad and the New Medical Centre in Abu Dhabi.
Professor Prabhu is a keen educator in the field of HIV/AIDS. In collaboration with the University Of Alabama School Of Dentistry, Professor Prabhu has been conducting workshops in India, Pakistan and the Caribbean region since 2002.
Professor Prabhu was born in Kallianpur, Udupi District, on December 6, 1941 to Late Mr. S Venkatraya Prabhu and Late Mrs. Nagaveni Prabhu. Professor Prabhu received his early education in Kallianpur and Udupi. He obtained degrees of Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) and Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) in Oral Pathology from the University of Bombay in 1966 and 1971 respectively. He received higher training in Experimental Oral Pathology at the London Hospital Medical College Dental School, London, in 1974.
In recent years Professor Prabhu has been conferred several Fellowships and Membership qualifications from the prestigious Royal Colleges in the UK and Ireland. These include:
• Fellowship of the Dental Faculty of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FDS RCS Edin). Awarded in recognition of services to dental profession.
• Fellowship of the Faculty of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (FDS RCS Eng). Awarded in recognition of his services to dentistry.
• Fellowship in Oral Medicine of the Dental Faculty of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (FDS RCPS Glasgow). Awarded in recognition of his services to dentistry.
• Fellowship of the Faculty of Dentistry of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (FFD RCS Ire). Earned by passing the examination.
• Membership in Oral Medicine of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (M O Med RCS Edin) Earned by passing the examination.
• Membership of the Faculty of General Dental Practice of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (MFGDP RCS (UK). Awarded in recognition of his services to dental profession.
• Fellowship of the International College of Dentists (FICD) USA. Awarded by the International College of Dentists in the United State in recognition of his services to dental profession.
It is widely believed in Indian dental circles and elsewhere that Professor S R Prabhu is the only Indian born dental specialist to receive Fellowships from all four Royal Colleges in the UK and Ireland. Three of these were conferred upon him in recognition of his services to the dental profession in several countries in the world. These Fellowships are regarded as prestigious specialist qualifications world over. It is indeed a rare honor for any one to be conferred three Fellowships Ad Eundum.
During 1975-2006, Professor Prabhu served teaching dental institutions in several countries. These include:
• College of Dental Surgery Manipal, India,
• University of Nairobi School of Dentistry Nairobi, Kenya,
• University of Khartoum School of Dentistry in Khartoum, Sudan,
• University of Adelaide Dental School in Adelaide, Australia,
• University of Malaya School of Dentistry, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• King Saud University College of Dentistry Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and
• University of the West Indies School of Dentistry in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies.
Professor Prabhu served as short term visiting academic at the University of Benin School of Dentistry Benin Nigeria, University of Papua New Guinea School of Dentistry, Port Moresby Papua New Guinea, and University of Iowa School of Dentistry Iowa City USA. Currently Professor Prabhu is a ‘Sir Thomas Kay Sidey Visiting Professor in Dentistry’ tenable at the University of Otago School of Dentistry in Dunedin, New Zealand
Professor Prabhu’s service in the less developed countries involved setting up new Dental Schools in general and establishing departments of Oral Pathology in particular. His contribution was greatly appreciated particularly in view of the fact that he hailed from a developing country possessing the required level of knowledge not only in the subject of Oral Pathology but also of the difficulties faced by the University administrators in effectively managing the dental school administration. In Trinidad and Tobago Professor Prabhu also served as the Director of the Dental School during 1993-1996, a position which he was invited to take up in competition with UK based and qualified Professors.
Professor Prabhu has received several awards since 1970. These include:
• The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) Scholarship to conduct research on Oral Manifestations of Leprosy at the Acworth Leprosy Hospital Bombay (1970-71).
• Commonwealth Medical Fellowship awarded by the Commonwealth Foundation in London tenable at the London Hospital Medical College Dental school London.
• Rotary Foundation Fellowship to serve in developing countries.
• British Council grants for academic visits to the UK based research institutions.
• CUSAC Fellowship tenable at Glasgow University School of dentistry.
• The University of Nairobi travel grants, University of Khartoum travel grants, University of Adelaide travel grants for academic visits to the US and UK.
• Unilever UK grant for the publication of a International edition of the book: “Oral Diseases in the Tropics” (Oxford Medical Publications Oxford) .
• Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheswara Trust subsidy (Rs. 100,000) for the Indian edition of the book: “Oral Diseases in the Tropics” (Oxford University Press).
• Hindustan Lever subsidy for the Indian edition of the book: “Oral Diseases in the Tropics” (Oxford University press).
• National AIDS Coordinating Committee (NACC) Trinidad and Tobago grants for the handbook: “HIV/AIDS In Dental Practice: An Illustrated Handbook for the Caribbean Dental practitioners”
• Caribbean HIV/AIDS Regional Training (CHART) Network University of the West Indies Mona Jamaica grants for the book: “HIV/AIDS IN Dental Practice”
• International Training, Education in HIV (I-TECH) of the University of Washington grants for the book: “HIV/AIDS in Dental Practice”
• Colgate Palmolive Regional Office Puerto Rico grants for the book: “HIV/AIDS In Dental Practice”
Throughout his academic career Professor Prabhu has been highly successful in receiving scholarships/fellowships and grants to support his academic/research activities.
Publication Record
• Published over 80 scientific papers and chapters in journals and books.
• Series Editor: Textbook Series in Dentistry: Oxford University Press (2002-current).
Edited four books, namely:
1. “Oral Diseases in the Tropics” (Edited by: S R Prabhu, D F Wilson, D K Daftary and N W Johnson) International Edition 1992. and “Oral Diseases in the Tropics” Indian Edition 1993.
2. “Textbook of Oral Medicine”: (S R Prabhu), Oxford University Press 2004.
3. “Textbook of Oral and Maxillofacial Anatomy, Histology and Embryology” (S R Prabhu), Oxford University Press Feb. 2006.
4. HIV/AIDS in Dental Practice: An Illustrated Handbook for Caribbean Dental Practitioners: (S R Prabhu). April. 2006.
In print:
1. “Textbook of Oral Diagnosis” (S R Prabhu) Oxford University Press. Estimated date of publication: Jan 2007.
2. “Dental Management of Medically Complex Patients”: Jaypee Medical Publishers New Delhi.
Professor Prabhu’s books have become popular in India and other less developed countries. Books have been specially designed to address the curricular and professional aspects that are relevant to the less developed countries. “Oral Diseases in the Tropics” is the first of its kind and has received highly complimentary reviews from world renowned reviewers; one of them even saying: “this is a Bible for dental students and practitioners in the developing countries”. This book, with 61 authors from all over the world has been prescribed in India as an essential text for post graduate students pursuing Master’s course in Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine.
Professor Prabhu’s “Textbook of Oral Medicine” has been picked up by Brazilian publishers for translation into Portuguese for Brazilian dental students.
Handbook on “HIV/AIDS for Dental Practitioners” edited by Professor Prabhu has received commendations from the President, Prime Minister and Health Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. This book, with generous subsidy from different sources has been distributed free of cost to all practicing dentists in the Caribbean region.
Conferences /Workshops/Dental School Seminar participation
Professor Prabhu has participated in conferences, workshops and Dental School seminars in Mumbai, Mangalore, Guntur, Dharwad, Chennai, Bangalore, Wardha, Manipal, Hyderabad, Goa, Kandy, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Nairobi, Port Moresby, Hong Kong, Darussalam, Benin, Lagos, Khartoum, Adelaide, Melbourne, Paris, Venice, London, and Glasgow, Iowa city, Riyadh, Kuwait, Karachi, Trinidad, Antigua, Jamaica, Nassau, Guyana, Dominica and Mexico City.
Professor Prabhu is probably the only Indian born dental specialist to present papers and address dental colleagues in so many countries throughout the world.
When asked among all the countries he visited, why he chose to work
in Trinidad, Professor Prabhu said – “Here in Trinidad and Tobago I found a mini India. With nearly half the population being third or fourth generation of East Indians, Indian culture and traditions are very much alive in Trinidad. Besides, the people are friendly, place is beautiful and work related stress is minimal. The country is democratic. Trinidad and Tobago is the richest island in the English speaking Caribbean. This country in my view has the best of both worlds.”
Talking about Professor Prabhu’s hobbies, he says – “Regretfully, having no hobbies has been my hobby! I like reading though. John Grisham is my favorite novelist. In Kannada, I have read Late Dr. Shivaram Karanth’s almost all novels. I have also read most of novels written by of S L Bhairappa, U R Anantha Murthi, Kuvempu, A N Krishna Rao, ‘Tharasu’, DVG, ‘Beechi’ and Anupama Niranjan. Should you know about my current hobby; it is the afternoon nap on Sundays!”
Professor Prabhu is married to Uma, whom he calls a lovely person, born in Parkala near Manipal. “All these years she has tolerated my idiosyncrasies with good grace. She has been supportive of all my academic pursuits, frequent moves and travels. She is a good mother who shouldered major responsibility of raising our two sons. She is an excellent cook and a great host too.” – says Professor Prabhu.
Together they have two sons, 30 and 28 years of age. Ashwin, the eldest is a dental graduate where as Ashish the younger son is a computer man! Australian by citizenship, both live in Melbourne, Australia.
Professor Prabhu is a keen reader of Kannada novels and literature. He commands a very good grasp over Kannada language. He is proficient in Marathi and Hindi as well. His love for Indian culture and Yakshagana is well known amongst his friends. He closely follows developments in India and is proud of Indian culture, tradition, heritage and progress.
Above all, Professor Prabhu is a proud Mangalorean!
Professor Prabhu’s message to mangalorean.com readers:
“If you are young, have a purpose in life, set high ethical standards and work hard to achieve them. If you are not so young, share your experience and knowledge so that others could benefit.”
Mangalorean.com wishes Professor S.R. Prabhu all the very best in his future endeavors!
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Comments:Dr S M Sharath Chandra, India:
Dr S M Sharath Chandra, India:
I i am glad,i had the honour of interacting with you on several occasions. while i was a student of CODS Manipal,later you also interviewed and selected me as a lecturer for trinidad and tobago dental school.
due to some unforeseen reason i could not proceed ,at present i have 27 years of teaching experience of in conservative dentistry which 10 years as a Post graduate teacher and 10 years as vice-principal and principal at siddartha dental college.
my daughter has completed BDS.(GDC bangalore)
i want your suggestion guidance and help if relocating to trinidad would be helpful in my case.
looking forward for your valuable support
nagarjun, India:
sir …am nagarjun from hyderabad ..hav no experience recently did my BDS frm hyderabad[andhra pradesh]..planning to settle in west indies ..can i get the job thr ? plz suggest me ..thankq.. nagarjun
Dr A. Jamadar, India:
Hello. Doctor, thats is really cool. iam a dentist from dharward. karnataka. i have 7 years experince in dentisrty. iam looking to move to trindada from India. can i find job there. or else please suggest me. thanks. a. Jamdar
Dr Rishi kumar bali, India:
Amazing achievements by Dr Prabhu !
Dr Devakumar avula MB; BS, MD FRSM (Lond), India:
I have known prof Prabhu in Malaysia. Excellent Acadamecian, outstanding
Dental Surgeon with international experience. Pleasant personality.
Dr. varun sardana, India:
He is a icon in dentistry, His achievements gives a motivations.
Dr Lily Misra, Mauritius:
What a real Mentor He is in Dentistry.
I wish I could get some tips from him so as grow myself in a foreign country.
Dr chike Igbokwe, UK:
What a remarkable medical expert, he is undoubtedly a good role model for the young ones.Kudos