Michaela Goodwin

Michaela Goodwin is a Lecturer and Researcher working across the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at the University of Manchester. She serves as the Postgraduate Research Tutor for the Division of Dentistry and is actively involved in both undergraduate teaching within the Division of Dentistry and postgraduate education as the Co-course Unit Lead for the Behaviour Change and Public Health module in the Masters in Public Health program. Her academic work bridges dental public health, behavioral science, and policy implementation.

Dr. Goodwin's educational background includes:

• PhD in Dental Public Health from the University of Manchester (awarded July 2016)
• Master of Public Health from the University of Manchester (awarded December 2016)
• MSc in Research Methods from Nottingham Trent University (awarded September 2006)
• BSc in Psychology from Nottingham Trent University (awarded July 2004)

Her primary research interests focus on dental public health and behavior, with significant contributions to understanding water fluoridation effects (particularly through the CATFISH study in Cumbria), reducing the need for general anesthetic extractions in children, and examining oral health across different population groups including older adults and children. Her work explores the complex causal networks behind dental health issues and develops behavior change interventions to address them.

Dr. Goodwin's research portfolio demonstrates strong trends in community-based dental public health interventions, with particular emphasis on preventive approaches that can be implemented through education settings. Her recent publications show increasing focus on digital health solutions for oral care, cross-cultural studies of dental health policies, and the connections between oral health and broader health behaviors. Her work consistently aims to translate research findings into practical, evidence-based interventions that can improve population oral health outcomes.

As a research supervisor, Dr. Goodwin serves as Postgraduate Research Tutor for the Division of Dentistry and has supervised PhD students. She leads an active research project titled "An evaluation of an alternative Child Friendly Dental Pathway for Paediatric patients" (2023-2026) and has secured research impact in both health and wellbeing and policy domains. Her research has informed policymakers on water fluoridation effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.

Dr. Goodwin is actively involved in research networks and collaborations, with significant external partnerships across different countries. She has contributed to research through datasets such as "Bedtime routines child wellbeing & development" and has engaged with media to communicate research findings to broader audiences, particularly regarding water fluoridation's impact on children's dental health.