Doctor of Science
A leading academic and researcher who has spent his life supporting advances in the dental profession.
Nairn Wilson is President Emeritus of the College of General Dentistry and Emeritus Professor of Dentistry, King’s College London.
At King’s, he was Professor of Restorative Dentistry, Dean and Head of the College’s internationally renowned Dental Institute from 2001 to 2012, and Deputy Vice Principal (Health) from 2009 to 2012. He led the initiative (2016 - 2021) to form the College of General Dentistry.
Highly accomplished in the field of dentistry, Nairn’s many related roles have included Editor of the Journal of Dentistry (1986 - 2000), Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (1995 - 1998), President of the Academy of Operative Dentistry’s European section (1998 - 2000), President of the General Dental Council (1999 - 2003), Co-chair of the Forum of European Heads and Deans of Dental Schools (2007 - 2012), President of the British Dental Association (2015 - 2016) and Honorary Founding President of the College of General Dentistry (2020 - 2021).
His professional interests include clinical dental biomaterials science, practice-based research, international trends in dental education, and the recent history and future developments in the clinical practice of dentistry.
Nairn continues to author and edit a diverse range of contributions to the dental literature, while serving the profession through a variety of roles, including as patron or trustee for various dental charities.
His honours and awards, in addition to a CBE awarded in 2004, include the Buonocore Memorial Prize, a Dentistry Lifetime Contribution Award, the Award of Excellence of the Academy of Operative Dentistry (European section), the John Tomes Medal of the British Dental Association, two honorary doctoral degrees, and the International Association for Dental Research Ivar, a major award for practice-based research.