Oral Health
Section Newsletter
Fall 2006

Message from the Chair

Dear Oral Health Section Members,

 

It has been an exciting two years as chair of this Oral Health Section of APHA.  A phrase that I always think of that providers use in oral health is “Open Wide.”  I offer my sincere gratitude and thanks to every one of you that did open wide your hearts and mind, and welcomed and supported me in the role of chair.  You gave your guidance, suggestions and enthusiasm, valuable time and wisdom helping the Section align and speak out on issues of access, scope of practice, and fluoridation.  Many of you worked together to review and revise policies, summarize current membership lists and reach out to prospective new members, and take on issues of both national and professional standards to assure access by improving the system.  Myron Allukian has organized information and eloquently spoken on the Alaska Dental Aide Therapist initiative on behalf of the Section.

 

There are several additional people that I want to give special recognition to.  I was told when I was nervous in the beginning, “Get a good secretary.”  Well, I was fortunate to have the BEST in Kathy Lituri.  She has been an amazing, tireless, good-natured, detail-oriented, and comprehensive team player.  She works well with incoming Chair Howard Pollick, who has stepped in has been helping to lead and connect.  They will provide a smooth, seamless transition, with a great sense for continuity.

 

The Annual Meeting always excites people, whether it involves submitting papers and posters for presentation, or screening those submitted.  Special recognition goes to Oscar Arevalo for his leadership organizing the annual meeting for two years in a row while he personally changed jobs and changed locations.  There are so many details. Then there was Hurricane Katrina that required a major shift and relocation of the 2005 conference to a new city. 

 

Preparation for the Annual Meeting gives us a chance to look at our current membership and outreach to new members.  It also gives a chance to review and update our current policies.  Amos Deinard took on both of these two major efforts, and he can report the committee’s finding at the business meeting. Great job, Amos.

 

Alice Horowitz is now on the editorial board for the American Journal of Public Health, and we are assured that she will always have positive influence on the topics and articles presented and  have sensitivity to the issues of creating improved dental health systems.

 

And I need to recognize Tim Cooke and the amazing job that he has done with getting a newsletter together and out as well as a Web site for the Section.  He will be greatly missed, and we all wish him and his wife a safe and exciting journey as they travel.  We are inviting someone “out there” to give a call and let us know that you are interested in filling is this vital area of communication for the Section.

 

As a nurse, I have had great connections with nurses in my community, and nationally through APHA sections, getting involved in identification and prevention of oral disease.  Posters in the Oral Health Section are being submitted by nurses in their partnership roles with health centers and clinics. I represented the Oral Health Section of APHA at the American Academy of Pediatrics “Partnership to Reduce Oral Health Disparities in Early Childhood” (PROHD) Grant at a meeting June 15-16,  2006 in Washington, D.C.

 

Of course there are so many more of you doing great work that I have not mentioned by name.  I look forward to celebrating our efforts and accomplishments at the Annual Meeting.  We’ll get to recognize a great leader in Tony Jong and initiate an award in his name recognizing talent in the field of dental health.  We’ll have our traditional awards as well.  I look forward to the networking and camaraderie of the meeting.

 

With best wishes to all.  Sincere thanks for your life time commitments and the inspiring work that you do.  See you at APHA!

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Introduction

Welcome to our pre-conference newsletter. You'll find information about the Section's schedule and awards here, but make sure you check the Section's Web site at http://www.apha-oh.org for all the latest details and a great set of resources for getting around Boston from our local liaison Dr. Raul Garcia.

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Scientific Program at APHA

On behalf of the Oral Health Section, I want to invite you to participate in the APHA Annual Meeting in Boston.  Our scientific committee has developed an exciting program, a combination of this year’s theme and current issues in oral health.  Highlights include:  Access to Oral Health Care and the Alaska Dental Therapist, Oral Health Services for the Frail Elderly, Public Health and Human Rights, RWJF's Pipeline Program: where are we now and where do we go from here, etc.  For a complete list of sessions and speakers please visit the APHA Web site:

http://apha.confex.com/apha/134am/techprogram/program_593.htm

I would like to commend the extraordinary work of the members of our scientific committee:

--Kathy M. Lituri, RDH, MPH
Boston University School of Dental Medicine
--Alice Horowitz, PhD
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
--Ron Romero, DDS, MPH
New Mexico Department of Health
--Woosung Sohn, DDS, PhD, DrPH
University of Michigan School of Dentistry
--Clemencia Vargas, DDS, PhD
University of Maryland Dental School

These individuals served as my steering committee, led the development of our invited sessions and actively participated in the review process.  I am extremely grateful to all of them; the quality of our program is a reflection of their hard work and expertise.   Finally,   I am very pleased to announce that Dr. Woosung Sohn will serve as our scientific chair for next year’s meeting.  We are in very capable hands -- Woosung has already made a fantastic contribution.  

 

Thank you all for supporting our Section and its mission.  With your enthusiasm and continued commitment, we can make a difference.  I look forward to seeing you in Boston.

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APHA Annual Meeting, Oral Health Schedule

American Public Health Association
134th Annual Meeting
Nov. 4-8, 2006
Boston

 The Oral Health Section Program Summary: For more detailed info visit APHA http://www.apha.org/meetings

The Oral Health Section would like to thank

Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals,

Dentsply Professional,

LCI, Ltd.,

and

OMNII Oral Pharmaceuticals

for their generous support of our annual meeting events.

 

Location: All Scientific Sessions sponsored by the Oral Health Section will be held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC), 415 Summer Street.

Local Arrangements:  Please see the Section Web site (http://www.apha-oh.org) for tips on getting around Boston during the APHA meeting and for more detailed information about the Monday night Award ceremony.  Section-wide e-mails will provide updated info as needed.

 

Exhibit/OH Booth Hours: Sun: 2-7, Mon: 9:30-5:30, Tue: 9:30-5:30, Wed: 9-12:30

 

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Sunday, Nov. 5, 2006
8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

205.0 Oral Health Section Business Meeting I – BCEC

12:00-2:00 p.m.

APHA Opening General Session:

Keynote Speakers:  Paul E. Farmer, MD, PhD, & Helene D. Gayle, MD,MPH 

2:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

250.0 Oral Health Section Business Meeting II - BCEC

Monday, Nov. 06, 2006
10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

3080.0 Oral Health Poster Session I (Poster) - BCEC

3081.0 Oral Health Poster Session II (Poster) - BCEC

3082.0 Oral Health Poster Session III (Poster) - BCEC

Moderator:  Oscar Arevalo, DDS, ScD, MBA, MS 

12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

3233.0 Access to Oral Health Care and the Alaskan Therapist (Oral) – BCEC

Moderator: Myron Allukian, DDS, MPH

2:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

3339.0 RWJF’s Pipeline Program: Where are we now and where do we go from here? (Oral) – BCEC

Moderator:  Oscar Arevalo, DDS, ScD, MBA, MS

4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
3417.0 Workforce Issues (Oral) – BCEC

Moderator:  Kathy Lituri, RDH, MPH

7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.  The APHA Knutson Award ceremony and a reception/buffet dinner to follow, at the "The Castle" on the Boston University Charles River Campus.  Please note that we will also present the first annual APHA Jong student awards that evening.  Please see the Web site for more info and watch for section-wide e-mails for updates.

12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m. 
4151.0 Health Effects of Fluoride and Its Implications for Policy (Oral) - BCEC

2:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
4245.0 Connection Between Oral Health and General Health (Oral) - BCEC 
Moderator:  Woosung Sohn, DDS, PhD, DrPH

8:30 p.m. - Stay tuned: plans for a local social event forthcoming.

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Oral Health Section Announces John W. Knutson Distinguished Service Award Recipient

The Oral Health Section is pleased to announce that John P. Br