Dr. Shiraz Khan graduated from the Dentistry in 2013. Having successfully completed foundation training and winning several prizes, he finished his dental core training in a range of specialisms including Restorative Dentistry at Croydon University Hospital and Guys and St Thomas’s.
He is currently placed in practices in Clapham, London and Hemel Hempstead. Shiraz has heightened his profile at this early stage or his career by guest lecturing to young dentists around the country and internationally.
Progressing in his career in additional post-graduate qualifications and building a portfolio of achievements means that Shiraz is nothing short of an aspirational individual. He invests time into his career development and experience and has most recently won the Fast Track 4 Award in recognition of his commitment to dentistry and becoming a leader of the future.
What is your current role and what does it involve?
I work as a Dental Surgeon at one private dental practice and as a Lead Dentist at another. This includes managing all other team members, forecasting, improving pathways for patients and lecturing internationally.
What do you love the most about your job and what is the biggest challenge?
I love sharing ideas with like-minded individuals and inspiring them to chase their individual dreams. Clinically, I love surpassing my patient’s expectations and using aesthetic dental treatment to improve patient’s smiles.
How did your degree help prepare your for your career?
The degree was incredible in giving a broad-base level of current knowledge. The most valuable subjects to me were restorative-dentistry-based, as this makes up the majority of my practice. However, also the fact that the School of Dentistry were so positive in supporting my aspirations and individuality allowed me to strive further than I ever could have imagined.
Why did you choose to study at Birmingham?
I had studied Biomedical Science at Birmingham previously and had really enjoyed it.
How would you sum up your time in Birmingham in three words?
Fun, hard-work, diverse.
What inspired your most during your time as a student?
The most inspirational lecturers, demonstrators, and clinicians all had a great personality. All of which were very different, however this made me see that being who you are will always put you in good stead.
What advice would you give to people who are conisdering studying at Birmingham?
That they will gain a wealth of opportunity, culture and an incredible Brummie accent! The university have worked incredibly hard to build the reputation that they have and the simple truth is being known as a Birmingham graduate has significant weight to it. As much as I had a good time in Birmingham, I grew as an individual, becoming the person I am today and I would do it all over again.
What advice would you give to current students studying your course who are still undecided about which career to go into?
Dentistry is a vast field. There are so many options within the field of dentistry. It is all about being honest with yourself and knowing what gets your ‘bubbles going’ so to speak. I have found by having a clear ambition and pathway ahead of me has allowed me to understand where I want to be and the steps I need to take in order to achieve these goals. If you get the chance, undertake a DCT (Dental Core Training) Post as this will generally allow you to see the vast-scope of dentistry and therefore allow for you to make a fully-informed decision.