orthognathic surgery, temporomandibular joint surgery including arthroscopy, cleft lip and palate repair, head and neck surgery and many more. In parallel with the witnessed remarkable development in healthcare, there was a similar development in education, at all levels from basic to higher education. In 1986, the newly established Sultan Qaboos University also created a new Medical School. The first batch of qualified doctors graduated in 1993. Later, the Oman Medical College was established in 2001 followed by Oman Dental College in 2006. The first batch of locally trained dentists graduated in 2012.
“Following graduation, young OMF surgeons are encouraged to pursue further fellowship training in recognized hospitals abroad.” splints and external frames. However, by the early nineties, Oman joined the rest of the modern developed world in the use of internal fixation systems based in the Champy principles of bone fixation using plates and screws. The service continued to progressively expand and prosper to its current level. Today, a wide variety of treatment modalities are provided to patients including
Dr. Noor Al Saadi and medical team.
Local training program in OMF surgery was initiated, developed and reinforced with a period of overseas training. In 2010, the OMF training program was formally approved and was the first surgical program to be accredited by the Oman Medical Specialty Board, which is the governing body for medical and dental specialty training. The training program, which started with a single resident per year, is currently accepting 2-3 residents per annum, into six main training centers. The training program is 4.5 years long, and includes different medical and surgical rotations in addition to research and elective blocks locally or abroad. Following graduation, young OMF surgeons are encouraged to pursue further fellowship training in recognized hospitals abroad. Currently, an estimated number of 30 oral and maxillofacial surgeons and trainees are working in the various healthcare sectors of Oman, including public services, military medical facilities, university hospital and private healthcare establishments. The collaborative work of OMF surgeons from the different sectors was crowned by the recent formation of the official professional representative organization called the Oman Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Club under the umbrella of The Oman Dental Society. The future is at the hands of those who prepare for it today. We are proud of what we have achieved so far and we are still determined to continue the journey of advancing all aspects of OMS practice. Although educating and training is a laborious process, it is a quest towards advancement and innovation. Quoting our leader His Majesty Sultan Qaboos (1991 at the graduation ceremony of the second batch of Sultan Qaboos University). “We shall, for our part, spare no effort to provide opportunities for the training of Omanis at all levels of education”. ■