Rate My Professor Estie Kruger

Estie Kruger is a Professor in the School of Health and Clinical Sciences at the University of Western Australia (UWA), where she has been an academic staff member since 2001. She earned her Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BChD) in 1988 and Master of Community Dentistry (MChD) in 1995 from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, followed by a PhD in Dental Public Health from UWA in 2016. Kruger holds specialist membership of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (MRACDS) and Fellowship of the International College of Dentists (FICD). Her career encompasses extensive research, teaching, and leadership in dental public health.

As Director of the International Research Collaborative – Oral Health and Equity, Professor Kruger's research specializations include dental public health, health behaviour, and oral health in rural and remote communities. She has produced over 200 peer-reviewed publications, contributing significantly to advancements in teledentistry, dental workforce distribution, access to care, and health inequities. Key publications feature "Challenges in the uptake of telemedicine in dentistry" (2016), "Teledentistry as a novel pathway to improve dental health in rural and remote Australia" (2020), "Role of telemedicine and mid-level dental providers in expanding dental-care access: potential application in rural Australia" (2016), and "Qualitative research and dental public health" (2012). She developed UWA's Master's program in dental public health, supervises PhD students, and has earned thousands of citations for her impactful work. Professor Kruger received the UWA Vice-Chancellor's Mid-Career Research Award in 2023, along with several teaching excellence awards and nominations. She serves as a Scientist in Residence at St Catherine’s College and a member of the UWA Alumni Council (2021-2026).