Doug is a BDS graduate of Sydney University and undertook his oral and maxillofacial surgery specialist training in the UK for 5 years at world renowned maxillofacial units in England and Scotland.

He gained his Primary Fellowship in London and his Final Fellowship in Glasgow obtaining his FDSRCPS in Glasgow and his Specialist Fellowship FFDRCSI in Dublin, Ireland.

He is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (ANZAOMS).        

Doug was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division on the 10^th June 2019.

Dr Thornton’s Sydney consulting rooms are in Blacktown and he operates at both Westmead Private Hospital and Mt Druitt Hospital. He is involved in the surgical training of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgical Registrars who rotate from Westmead Hospital and he has regular joint Orthognathic-Orthodontic planning clinics with the Orthodontic Department at Westmead Hospital.

As a command multi-engine instrument rated pilot, Doug can fly anytime of the day and so it has allowed him to provide an Outreach Specialist Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Service.

He operates and consults at Tamara Private Hospital in Tamworth every Friday and on alternating Tuesdays at the regional hospitals in Inverell and Narrabri.