Dr Sam Allen has taken up the post as Dean of the Faculty of Travel Medicine at the Faculty’s Annual General Meeting on 27 October 2021.
Dr Allen completed specialty training in clinical tropical medicine in London and Liverpool, Peru and Brazil. He successfully completed the inaugural International Diploma in Expedition and Wilderness Medicine hosted by our College and received the Triennial Scholarship award to study Zika in Brazil. Alongside his clinical duties as a Consultant at University Hospital Crosshouse in Ayrshire he runs a travel clinic and yellow fever vaccination centre.
Dr Allen is a member of the UK Emergency Medical Team and was deployed to Sierra Leone as part of the Ebola response. He is medical advisor to the Scientific Exploration Society, member of the International Diploma in Expedition and Wilderness Medicine Examination Board and an International Fellow of the Explorers Club.
Dr Allen has been involved with the Faculty of Travel Medicine since 2016, when he became a Regional Advisor. He was elected to the Faculty Executive Board as Vice Dean in 2018 and was then elected to the post of Dean Elect in 2020. He is also a member of the College’s Global Health Board.
Dr Allen takes up the role of Dean as Mrs Jane Chiodini demits office after three years in the post. Mrs Chiodini said:
“It has been an honour to serve as the Dean of the Faculty and I feel very proud of everything that we have achieved during the past three years. I wish Sam the very best as he takes over the role and I look forward to seeing the Faculty continue to grow and lead the way in setting the standard for good practice in travel medicine.”
Dr Allen said:
“It is my desire, as the incoming Dean, to build upon the vision set out by our immediate past Dean, Jane Chiodini, to establish the Faculty as the ‘go to’ professional body in all things travel health.
Given the seismic changes to the travel industry and our way of life as a result of COVID-19, the Faculty will have an important role to support travel health providers navigate these dire straits and prepare the next generation of travel health professionals for when the travel rebounds once again.”