CONNCECT IN CHICAGO!
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Excited about our upcoming gala and benefit in Chicago? Will you be there? Use in your Twitter updates and follow ours @Smile4Health |
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Oral Health America
IN THE NEWS! 
The State-Journal Register, Springfield, IL, wrote about the plight of low-income adults in accessing dental services
OHA's Gala in Dental Office Magazine
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| MEET OHA'S STAFF AT THE CHICAGO MIDWINTER MEETING |
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OHA has a new trade show booth just in time for the Chicago Midwinter Meeting--look for us at space #423J at McCormick Place! |
BLOGGING FOR OHA
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We are pleased to introduce our intern, Ben Anders, a third-year pre-dental student at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Ben will be blogging about his time with us, beginning at this year's Gala & Benefit next week.
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Thanks to a grant from Dentaquest
Foundation,
eBriefings from OHA's fall symposium, Collaborative Health Care for Older Adults are now online at the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) web site. To access the multimedia presentations of speakers' slides and audio, the meeting summary and links to related sources,
click here! |
ORAL HEALTH AMERICA is highlighted in the new resource guide produced just in time for Children's Dental Health Month by the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC) with the Maternal and Child Health Library at Georgetown University. Topics include child care and Head Start, dental caries, dental sealants, fluoride varnish, K-12 education, pregnancy, school-based care, and special health care needs. The knowledge path is available HERE! | | |
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ORAL HEALTH AMERICA AND TRIDENT® GUM CELEBRATE CHILDREN'S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH WITH GRANT AWARD TO THE DEAMONTE
DRIVER DENTAL PROJECT
The Robert T. Freeman Dental Society Foundation is a recipient this month of a $20,000 grant from Oral Health America (OHA) for the Deamonte Driver Dental Project (DDDP), a school-based community oral health initiative in Prince George's County, MD. The grant is made possible through a $1.5 million, three-year commitment from Trident® gum to OHA's Smiles Across America® program.
"Dental care is an essential part of appropriate medical care," said Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) in a statement about the award. "In 2007, 12-year-old Deamonte Driver from Prince George's County died from a brain infection caused by a tooth abscess. Treating a cavity takes very little time or effort, but the death of a child from tooth decay is a national tragedy we must make sure never happens again."
"The painful lesson learned from the needless and tragic death of Deamonte Driver is that without access to quality dental care, every child in America is at risk," Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) added. "Because of the support from Oral Health America, the Deamonte Driver Dental Project will ensure that children in our community who are most vulnerable to dental disease will receive the care they so desperately need."
DDDP was launched in 2008 to ensure that no child in Prince George's County would lack access to needed dental services. The Smiles Across America grant will support the expansion of school-based dental care in Prince George's County.
"Oral Health America applauds Maryland's efforts and the work of the Deamonte Driver Dental Project," said Beth Truett, President and CEO, OHA.
Read the full press release here |
A-DEC GIVES BACK
THROUGH ORAL HEALTH AMERICA
Leading dental equipment manufacturing company A-dec, Inc., is a longtime supporter of OHA. Ken and Joan Austin, co-owners and co-founders of A-dec have generously donated an exciting travel package to be auctioned at our Gala & Benefit on February 24. The package includes a two nights' stay at the Allison Inn & Spa--Oregon Wine Country's Premier Luxury Resort--plus a wine tour, spa treatments and dinner with the Austins (schedule permitting).
OHA had the pleasure of interviewing Ken and Joan Austin, and A-dec President Scott Parrish about A-dec's commitment to our organization.
OHA: A-dec has been an OHA supporter for over 30 years! How did you become involved with our organization?
Ken and Joan Austin: Oral Health America and A-dec share a long history and mutual interests dating back to the time of the original organization of American Fund for Dental Education. From its earliest days, the organization's founders were an inspiration as they lobbied to secure funding for dental education and research.
Inertia was not option as they were passionate in their belief that the dental industry had a very clear responsibility to improve and safeguard the American public's oral health. We agreed. A-dec became a willing participant in the organization's efforts and remains so to this day.
We also enjoyed the opportunity to partner with other industry leaders in pursuit of a common goal for our communities. Oral Health America could reach the general public, and with the industry's backing and pooled resources, the organization's outreach had far greater influence and impact. It was gratifying to watch OHA evolve over the years and to know that our ongoing support, combined with support from our friends in the dental industry, played a role in its accomplishments.
OHA: Why has A-dec remained a loyal supporter?
 Scott Parrish:
A-dec's mission is in complete alignment with OHA. That's why we have been supporters for over 30 years. Included in our mission statement are the words: "to work together for the betterment of dentistry worldwide." We have partnered with not only OHA, but a variety of additional organizations who along with many of our own individuals, provide abundant opportunities to educate and advocate. It is our hope that the A-dec name be synonymous with giving and improving dentistry and providing dental health for all. |
NEW FACES AT ORAL HEALTH AMERICA
Oral Health America is pleased to welcome four new employees this month as we gear up for a busy 2010:
 Anthony (Tony) Stefanou, DMD, Associate Director, External Relations, is a 1987 graduate of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, and retired from clinical practice at the end of 2005. He has since devoted his efforts to the "business" side of dentistry in sales, marketing, education, and consulting. Tony has presented CE seminars, webinars, and workshops to over 12,000 dental professionals and salespeople on topics including marketing, home care, periodontal risk assessment, practice transitions, and sales.
 Amanda Ciatti, Manager, Program Research & Development, has a range of experiences from the social service, educational and healthcare fields. She was Director of Development for the DuPage Community Clinic, a free medical and dental clinic for the uninsured. Prior to that, she was a social worker with families from underserved communities, and developed programs with collaborative public/private partners to meet their educational, psychosocial and health needs.
Sheila Cotter, Database Associate, is a 10-year Raiser's Edge non-profit fundraising database expert, having played a leading role in a database conversion process in her previous position as the Executive Assistant for the Dean of the Academy for Life and Learning at Chicago's Fourth Presbyterian Church.
Jennifer Gilbert, Communications Associate, comes to Oral Health America as a former associate editor of Chicago Parent, and editor of Chicago Baby. She is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School
. of Journalism. Jennifer will be contributing her writing and research skills to OHA's growing communications team.
Catherine Hough, MPH, who preceded Amanda Ciatti and helped to organize our philanthropic outreach in 2009, said goodbye to OHA and to Chicago to accept an exciting new position in Atlanta as a Health Communications Specialist at the CDC's Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch. She will be close to her family in Georgia and Florida and is certain to have a bright future at the CDC. Thanks and good luck Catherine!
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Time to Tune Back In to Health Care Reform
According to a new Washington Post-ABC News Poll, nearly two-thirds of Americans want Congress to keep trying to tackle the issue of health care reform. A televised health care summit is planned by the Obama Administration for February 25, aimed at bringing Democrats and Republicans together. The disaster in Haiti, snow, the Super Bowl, and the Olympics have captured our attention so far in 2010, but we cannot forget health care reform. We've worked too hard and come too far...and our country needs it.
As members of Congress gear up for the President's summit, let's let them know that we stand behind health care reform that includes meaningful oral health provisions such as those included in the current House and Senate bills. Here is a reminder of those provisions:
- training programs for general, pediatric, and public health dental students, residents and dental hygienists
- alternative dental health care providers' demonstration program
- oral disease prevention program through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including oral health education, community water fluoridation, and school-based sealant programs
- provisions for school health centers to use funds for oral health
- surveillance of oral health status and use of services
- expanded pediatric coverage and coverage for pregnant women
Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 or use the online Congressional Directory. Click Here to find direct numbers and e-mail addresses.
Say: It's time to fix our health care system. It's important for our economy and our children's future. Health reform is critical to ensuring that all Americans are able to obtain the care that they need--including oral health care.
And then, tune in to the health care summit on February 25.
For as long as it takes, Oral Health America will continue to work for policies that improve oral health for all Americans, especially those most vulnerable. A year into this health reform process, what do you think we should be focusing on? Please email liz@oralhealthamerica.org and help shape our long-term advocacy goals. |
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