Lincoln Academic Secures Prestigious International Dentistry Award

The award was announced last week at the 103rd IADR General Session in Barcelona, the world’s largest gathering of oral health researchers and clinicians.

With only 16 Distinguished Scientist Awards presented globally each year, they are among the most prestigious accolades in the field.

Professor Baker’s achievement is particularly noteworthy as she has now received two such awards in distinct categories – her first, in 2018, recognised her work in Behavioural, Epidemiologic and Health Services Research. Few researchers worldwide have received this recognition more than once, and even fewer across different disciplines.

In addition to receiving the award, Professor Baker was also an invited speaker at two high-profile symposia during the conference. She presented research on the healthcare experiences of denture wearers at an industry-sponsored event by Haleon, and contributed to a session hosted by the World Dental Federation, which focused on strengthening global oral health research and information systems.

Professor Baker joined the University of Lincoln in March 2025 where she leads collaborative, place-based research tackling health inequalities in rural and coastal communities.

This includes leading research in oral and dental health, which will support the work of the newly established Lincoln Institute for Dental and Oral Health, to address issues such as access to care, prevention, and early detection in underserved areas

Professor Baker also works alongside colleagues in cancer and ageing research, exploring the lived experiences of people affected by cancer in rural and coastal settings and supporting healthy ageing through integrated, place-sensitive approaches.

Through these activities, she aims to shape policy, enhance service delivery, and build research capacity to improve health outcomes for populations across the region.

Professor Baker said: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining the University of Lincoln and the Institute for Rural and Coastal Health. Having been born and brought up in Lincolnshire, I had to leave at the age of 18 as there were no universities in the county at that time, so for me, this appointment feels like a true homecoming.

“My parents still reside in rural Lincolnshire, meaning I am fully aware of the unique challenges and health and social inequalities we face in our rural and coastal communities. It is a privilege to now be in a position to use my research to help address these issues and work towards improving the health and wellbeing of the people and communities in the region.”