Department of Oral Pathology / Oral Medicine

Professor Bukola F. ADEYEMI
   Departmental Head 
   Department of Oral Pathology 

History of the Department

At inception in 1977 when Ibadan Dental School was established at the Pre-clinical level, Oral Pathology department was one of the four (4) departments on the list; even though no staff trained in the specialty was available. Consequently, an American, Professor Shartz was employed by the University to teach Oral histology and embryology. In 1978, the first set of dental students arrived from pre-clinic to clinical side of the University College Hospital, Dental School to begin training in clinical dentistry. The University relied on teachers from abroad to engage our students in block teaching and these teachers were also flown in for examinations.  Prominent among these were Professors Williams and Johnson. However, the department of Oral Pathology lacked indigenous staff for almost ten years while other departments had achieved this. By 1980, Dr. Lawoyin (now Professor) was appointed. 
Subsequently, the University started to seriously think on how to train indigenous staff.  By 1982 a staff development grant was awarded to two staff members to pursue Postgraduate training in Oral Pathology abroad.  Dr. J. O. Lawoyin a Registrar and Associate Lecturer was one of them. 
In 1985, when Dr. Lawoyin who was sent to Glasgow Dental Hospital, Sauchiehall Street, returned home after qualifying with a Masters degree in Oral Pathology; he became the first and only Oral Pathologist and Co-ordinator of the programme.  In 1989 a small laboratory for routine histopathology and heamatology was established.  He eventually re-organized the department into the Sub-units of (1) Oral Medicine (2) Oral Diagnosis and Radiology (3) Oral Hhistopathology. Due to acute shortage of Oral Pathologist and the inability to attract additional staff/ consultant, the department in 1992 embarked upon local training of residents.  By 1999, the first Oral Pathologist to be trained at the University College Hospital Dr. Bamidele Kolude finished and was appointed lecturer/consultant.  Four additional staff have since been trained to assume lectureship position with eight (8) Resident Doctors of various level of training presently on ground. 
Prof. Newell W Johnson – A pioneer professor of Oral pathology at UI/UCH dental School.