Take Action
Use the simple APHA online system to send a letter or email to your elected representatives in Congress on a variety of issues. Go to
http://www.capwiz.com/apha/issues/ to find the Current Action Alerts and Key Votes.
Access follow up
The American Dental Association convened the first American Indian/Alaska Native Oral Health Access Summit, November 12-14, 2007 in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico. The summit was an excellent opportunity for key stakeholders to gather to discuss the many factors that impact the oral health of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people. The ADA leaders and others who attended the summit learned a great deal about the daily obstacles to dental care faced by these populations and the providers who serve them. The Summit resulted in the formation of seven action teams to address the multiple facets related to the oral health of AI/AN communities. Each Summit participant volunteered to serve on one action team, and one leader from each group was identified to participate on the coordinating AI/AN Strategic Work Group. The ADA agreed to communicate the Summit process, content and outcomes to the dental profession and use additional ADA mechanisms to “tell the story” of oral health disparities in Indian Country. The ADA will convene the AI/AN Strategic Work Group and assist its members to coordinate their action teams. The ADA will also provide progress reports on the work of each action team and develop and distribute a written consensus report that describes the work of the Summit participants. To review the Summit report, visit ADA.org [http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/topics/access.asp#featured <http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/topics/access.asp#featured> ].
On behalf of APHA, Dr. Howard Pollick attended the American Indian/Alaska Native Oral Health Access Summit, November 12-14, 2007 in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico. Several of the various groups indicated their support for the Alaska dental health aide therapists. For the ADA Summary Report go to
http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/topics/topics_access_alaska_summit.pdf
Member in the news
Congratulations to APHA Oral Health Section member Deborah Greenspan, BDS, DSc, having been appointed as Chair, Dept. of Orofacial Sciences at the School of Dentistry, University of California San Francisco. Dr. Greenspan is also President, IADR. http://dentistry.ucsf.edu/about/jdbf.14DEC07.pdf
Nominations sought for Oral Health Section Leadership Positions
There are several positions open for nominations:
1 Chair-Elect (two-year term followed by a two-year term as Chair and two-year term as immediate past chair)
1 Secretary-Elect (one-year term followed by a three-year term)
2 Section Councilors (three-year term)
1 Governing Councilor (two-year term)
Details on the responsibilities of these positions can be found at http://www.apha.org/membergroups/sections/elections/
While these responsibilities are often modified by the individual holding the office, the current and outgoing officers of the Section will provide guidance to enhance a smooth transition.
Contact: Nominations Chair, Dyan Campbell dyanc@pronetisp.net
Membership
1. We need volunteers to help with the Membership Committee:
Contact Membership Chair: Beth Hines bua5@CDC.GOV
2. The expanded Primary Membership option is a great opportunity to add additional Oral Health Section members
3. The expanded Primary Membership allows Oral Health Section members to join another Section (or two)
New Policies
The Oral Health Section is submitting two new policies to APHA to be considered by the Joint Policy Council and voted on by the Governing Council at the 2008 annual meeting. Once accepted, they will be posted on the APHA website by the end of March. The proposed policies have the support of the Oral Health Section leadership:
1. Opposition to Prophylactic Removal of Third Molars (Wisdom Teeth) – Policy Statement
2. Community Water Fluoridation - Position Paper.
Contact Howard Pollick for more information at howard.pollick@ucsf.edu