Dr Maria Khattak appointed to senior role in dental public health at KMU

PESHAWAR: Dr Maria Ishaq Khattak has been appointed to a senior role in dental public health at Khyber Medical University after promotion to BPS 20, a milestone that positions her among the most accomplished early career academics in Pakistani dentistry.

Dr Maria’s promotion to BPS 20 at Khyber Medical University marks a significant achievement for dental public health in Pakistan. At thirty-three, she now holds the highest academic rank available in the specialty within the country, a rank commonly recognised across dental colleges as professor level and within the university system as associate professor.

Her academic credentials reflect deep expertise and international training. Dr Maria holds:

• BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery);
• MSc (Distinction) in Dental Public Health from the University of Leeds;
• Diplomate in Dental Public Health from the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS); and
• PhD in Dental Public Health from Universiti Sains Malaysia.

These qualifications, combined with global collaborations, give her the scholarly authority to shape both policy and practice in oral health.

Soon after returning from Leeds, Dr Maria recognised a national gap in structured postgraduate training in dental public health. She established Pakistan’s first MPhil programme in the specialty at Khyber Medical University, creating a formal academic pathway for dentists who seek advanced competence in oral epidemiology, community dentistry, health systems, and research. Graduates of the programme now contribute to teaching and public health practice across Pakistan, demonstrating the programme’s national significance and immediate practical value.

Her research agenda focuses on high-priority, policy-relevant themes in contemporary dentistry, including:

• Oral health inequalities and social determinants of health
• Maternal and child oral health
• Climate-related oral health risks
• Access and exclusion in health services for marginalized communities.

Through collaborations with the University of York, the University of Oxford, and Universiti Sains Malaysia, Dr Maria has amplified Pakistani oral health issues on the international stage, strengthening both her individual authority and the country’s research profile.

Dr Maria’s rise to BPS 20 is more than an individual milestone; it signals an important shift in Pakistani dentistry toward integrating clinical excellence with public health, research, and policy leadership. As oral health challenges become more complex and intertwined with social and environmental determinants, the profession needs leaders who can translate evidence into effective policy and community programs. Dr Maria’s skill set and academic leadership match that need.

As a woman from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dr Maria’s achievement has special resonance. In a province and a professional culture where senior roles for women are limited, her progression demonstrates that excellence can emerge from traditionally underrepresented regions. Her public remarks underline this principle: “Dentistry is at its strongest when it understands the communities it aims to serve. Clinical skill, research, and empathy are not separate paths.” That emphasis on community-centered scholarship strengthens trust with students, colleagues, and policymakers.

Dr Maria’s career offers a clear blueprint for young dentists and students: combine rigorous clinical training with advanced public health education, pursue international collaboration, and invest in program development. Her work shows that academic leadership can create lasting, system-level change—through curriculum development, capacity building, and evidence-informed advocacy.

Dr Maria Khattak’s appointment to BPS 20 and her founding of Pakistan’s first MPhil in dental public health position her as a leading voice shaping the future of oral health policy, research, and education in Pakistan. Her promotion is a win for evidence-informed dentistry, for gender representation in academia, and for communities that stand to benefit from stronger, prevention-focused oral health leadership.