Professor of Oral Medicine Faculty of Dentistry - Cairo University
In every profession there are individuals whose dedication, vision, and perseverance shape the future of their field. In dentistry, these pioneers not only advance scientific knowledge but also inspire generations of students and professionals who follow in their footsteps. The Who’s Who section of Dentist Guide highlights such distinguished personalities whose careers have left a lasting impact on dental education, research, and clinical practice. In this inaugural profile, we present Prof. Khaled Abou El Fadl, Professor of Oral Medicine at the Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University, and former Dean of the faculty. His remarkable journey—from a young student navigating uncertain choices to becoming a leading academic figure and influential educational leader—reflects resilience, commitment, and an enduring passion for dentistry and higher education.
Prof. Khaled Abou El Fadl was born on April 27, 1949 in Cairo, Egypt. He completed his early education at El-Nokrashy School, a distinguished governmental institution that helped in shaping generations of students into disciplined leaders. Although he excelled in primary and preparatory stages, his high school grades did not allow him to pursue his initial dream of studying medicine.
Encouraged by family and friends, he chose to enroll in the Faculty of Dentistry at Cairo University, graduating in 1972. Prof. Khaled recalls that while in high school, planning to join university, he did not even realize there was a Faculty of Dentistry — and never imagined a day would come when he would be at its top.
Prof. Fadl added that at that time, his family and friends suggested he choose between the Faculty of Pharmacy and Dentistry. “Actually, I had no interest in Pharmacy, so I applied for Dentistry,” he recalled. “After my first week there, I wasn’t satisfied and decided to shift to the Faculty of Engineering. However, for some unknown reasons, I did not proceed with that and remained in my place.” He continued, “I must mention that it was only due to my professors, who helped me a lot, that I finally grew to like my studies until graduation.”
Following his graduation, Prof. Fadl began his academic career as a demonstrator in the Oral Medicine Department. He successfully completed both his Master’s and Doctorate degrees, and by 1987 was promoted to Associate Professor. Soon after, he accepted an opportunity in Saudi Arabia, where he worked for seven years and attained the rank of Professor in 1992, further strengthening his academic credentials while contributing significantly to the field abroad.
Returning to Egypt, he continued serving as a professor until 2005, when he was appointed Vice Dean for Postgraduate Studies at the Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University. This role gave him deeper insight into the faculty’s circumstances and needs. On December 6, 2005, he was promoted to Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, where he worked diligently to bridge gaps and accelerate progress, often describing his efforts as a “race against time.”
At the same time, he was selected as Advisor to the Minister of Higher Education and a member of the Council of Private Universities, thereby expanding his influence to national educational policy alongside his academic leadership.
When asked about the unforgettable people who shaped his life, Prof. Fadl emphasized the profound influence of his father, Mr. Mohamed Abou El-Fadl Ibrahim, a renowned scholar in Islamic heritage who authored more than forty books in history, linguistics, and Islamic studies. “I am truly honored to be his son; he taught me many values, such as decency and humility, as well as his passion for knowledge,” Prof. Fadl said.
Career-wise, he acknowledged the remarkable role of Prof. El-Gridley, who acted as a father figure to all students and faculty members. “He never hesitated to help anyone; moreover, he personally celebrated the event of our appointment as demonstrators in the faculty,” Prof. Fadl recalled.
He also expressed deep admiration for other professors he loved and respected, including Prof. Mohamed Hossny Mostafa, Prof. Sami Sadek, and Prof. Ragae Mastehy, describing them as great mentors on both personal and scientific levels.
Prof. Khaled Abou El Fadl’s journey reflects resilience, ambition, and a deep commitment to his profession. He joined the Faculty of Dentistry at Cairo University in 1967, a year marked by Egypt’s defeat in the war. The political climate weighed heavily on the nation, and like many young Egyptians, he participated in demonstrations, carrying the collective anger and determination that eventually culminated in the victory of 1973.
In 1970, as a young student, he traveled to the Netherlands, where he worked in various jobs — on fishing boats, in a pickle factory, and washing dishes. Through perseverance, he saved enough money to buy a car for 250 Egyptian pounds. Upon returning home, many admired the car’s shape and offered to buy it for more than he had paid, with one even proposing to exchange it for a fully equipped clinic. Yet, as an undergraduate student, he declined, choosing instead to continue his studies.
After graduating in 1972, Prof. Fadl began practicing dentistry by opening a clinic in the Al Haram district, equipped with a modest, motionless dental unit that cost about 400 pounds. Despite its simplicity, he earned up to 20 LE daily, a considerable income at the time. He later opened another clinic on Silliman Pasha Street in central Cairo, sharing space with a colleague, before establishing his own clinic in Heliopolis in 1978. This clinic remains active today, with both his daughter and son working alongside him. Notably, many professors and dental consultants began their careers assisting in this very clinic during their early professional years.
In 1987, while serving as an Associate Professor in the Oral Medicine Department, Prof. Fadl traveled to Saudi Arabia, initially intending to stay for one or two years to improve his financial resources. His stay extended to seven years, during which he faced challenges but also achieved remarkable successes. He established a distinguished dental laboratory, founded several new clinics, and created a specialized dental store that later became a recognized institution under new ownership.
Since taking on his role as Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, Prof. Khaled Fadl has made many significant contributions. Reflecting on his early days in the position, he recalled: “When I first took responsibility, there was a building that had never truly been put into action. I saw its potential and, together with my colleagues, we worked tirelessly to overcome the structural challenges. In the end, we transformed it into a fully functioning educational hospital, complete with clinics and postgraduate study facilities. To emphasize its importance, I even moved my own office there, along with the Faculty Council room, so that our leadership and decision-making would be directly connected to postgraduate education and clinical practice.”
The old Dean’s office and the Faculty Council room were not left idle; instead, they were transformed into a central control room. This strategic move allowed the faculty to supervise and secure the entire process of examinations and grading. For the first time, a dedicated space existed where all exam papers could be received, monitored, and processed under strict confidentiality. The central control room became essential in ensuring transparency, fairness, and accuracy in grading, while eliminating any possibility of tampering or mismanagement. It stood as the nerve center of the faculty’s academic integrity, safeguarding the trust of students and reinforcing the credibility of the institution.
This was the first of many challenges. “We had variable improvement plans and ideas, but unfortunately, they required substantial financial support to be implemented,” he explained. Among the obstacles he faced was the absence of clear rules and regulations governing staff performance, which deprived the faculty of the discipline essential for advancing education.
Despite these difficulties, Prof. Fadl achieved remarkable progress. He opened the first digital library in the educational dental hospital building, created a special exhibition hall for dental companies, and secured agreements with both the FRCS for the orthodontic department and the DGZI dental implant training group, offering new training opportunities for students. He also resolved long-standing issues with suppliers, enabling the installation of over 70 new dental units, which allowed more postgraduate students to pursue their studies.
His vision extended to the restoration of the old building, including plans for a new outdoor hall for central compressors, reorientation of the car parking area, reconstruction of the main gate, marble coating of internal passage walls, and renewal of laboratories and clinics. Today, the operative dentistry and prosthodontics clinics are equipped with 150 working dental chairs, including 100 new units, while a new postgraduate clinic with 25 chairs has also been established. For the first time, the faculty gained a computer lab and seminar room with modern audiovisual equipment.
Prof. Fadl also initiated the first Cairo Dental College International Conference, which proved an outstanding success, attracting more than 5,000 visitors. By launching the conference, expanding postgraduate studies as well as promoting other educational and scientific activities, he succeeded in building a solid foundation of resources that later served as vital financial support for the faculty’s developmental projects. Among these achievements was the allocation of a new building for the college at Cairo University’s branch in 6th of October City, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s growth and future vision.
In 2008, after completing three successful years as Dean, the university president invited him to extend his tenure until retirement age. Instead, Prof. Fadl accepted an invitation to travel to Al Madinah Al-Munawara, Saudi Arabia, where he contributed to establishing a new dental school at Taiba University. After one year, he returned to Egypt, becoming Dean and later Vice President of Al Nahda University, the first private university in Upper Egypt.
In 2018, he was selected as President of the Dental Affairs Committee of the Supreme University Council at the Ministry of Higher Education, serving for three years. Today, Prof. Fadl continues to share his expertise as a consultant for universities and dental institutes, acts as honorary president of many dental conferences, and delivers selective lectures in Oral Medicine when invited to scientific gatherings.
In 1976, Prof. Fadl married one of his colleagues, who became a true pillar in his personal and professional journey. Together they built a family of four children who each pursued distinguished academic and professional paths. His eldest daughter is an assistant professor in the Pediatric Dentistry Department at Ain Shams University, while his son became a professor in the Crown and Bridge Department at the same faculty, continuing the family’s strong legacy in dentistry. His second daughter graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy and now serves as a lecturer at a private university, and his youngest daughter earned her degree from the Faculty of Economics and Political Sciences, extending the family’s contributions beyond the medical sciences. Prof. Fadl takes immense pride in seeing his children follow diverse careers, each embodying the values of knowledge, dedication, and service that he and his wife have upheld throughout their lives.
Prof. Fadl hopes that time will grant him the opportunity to finalize his ambitious plans for improving the Faculty of Dentistry, with particular focus on advancing the X-ray and diagnostic departments as well as the Pediatric Dentistry Department.
Looking beyond his own achievements, he emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning, advising students to seize every available opportunity for continuous education and self-development. He urges them never to waste a moment, stressing that knowledge is dynamic, ever-evolving, and must be constantly renewed to keep pace with progress.
Alongside his academic vision, Prof. Khaled emphasizes the importance of developing a robust national industry for dental materials and equipment in Egypt. He envisions the establishment of a strong, locally driven sector capable of producing high-quality dental materials and equipment that would reduce reliance on imports, lower costs for practitioners, and support the modernization of dental education and clinical practice across the country. By fostering collaboration between universities, research institutions, and manufacturers, he believes Egypt could become a regional leader in dental innovation and production, ensuring sustainability and accessibility for future generations of dentists while contributing to the nation’s economic development.
Prof. Khaled Abou El Fadl’s journey stands as a testament to resilience, vision, and dedication, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations of students, colleagues, and professionals in the field of dentistry.
