Welcome to the American Association of Public Health Dentistry!
AAPHD accepts the challenge to improve total health for all citizens through the development and support of effective programs of oral health promotion and disease prevention. Join us in this effort - Click here to become a Member!
AAPHD Awards - Call for Nominations - NEW DEADLINES
There is no greater acknowledgement than that which comes from our peers. Please help the AAPHD Awards Committee select the recipients for its 2026 Awards Winners. We are seeking nominations for four awards:
- Distinguished Service Award - Presented to a member of AAPHD for excellent and distinguished service to public health dentistry and the association. Nominations due January 23, 2026
- Public Service Award - Presented to an individual for substantial contribution through action related to public health dentistry issues. Nominations due January 23, 2026
- Amos Deinard Award - Awarded annually to an emerging faculty leader (less than 10 years since graduation of terminal degree) Nominations Now Due November 14, 2025
- AAPHD Richard Ferraro Award - Honors the Director of the Dental Service in an FQHC that has developed an excellent community preventive dentistry program, and improved access to basic dental care. Nominations Now Due November 14, 2025
You can find the specifics of each award on our website. Nominations should be sent to the AAPHD National Office at [email protected].
Please visit the website to see a list of past award recipients.
Inaugural DPH Student Symposium Held at WesternU CDM Draws Regional Participation and National Recognition
Pomona, California – October 18, 2025 — The American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD) held its inaugural Dental Public Health (DPH) Student Symposium at the Western University of Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine (WesternU CDM). The landmark event drew 84 attendees from three states and five universities, uniting future dental professionals under the theme: “Creating Pathways in Dental Public Health While Making a Difference.”
This full-day symposium, organized and hosted by the AAPHD Student Chapter at WesternU CDM and generously underwritten by both the AAPHD Foundation and the California Dental Association Foundation, provided students and emerging professionals with valuable insight into careers in dental public health, health equity, and leadership.
The agenda featured two dynamic panel discussions, two targeted presentations, and a nationally recognized keynote speaker, offering diverse perspectives and lived experiences from leaders in the field. The event spotlighted the real-world applications of public health in dentistry and emphasized the urgent need for innovation, compassion, and inclusion in the profession.
Speakers and panelists included:
MC:
Dr. Marisa Watanabe, DDS, MS, FIDC - WesternU CDM Associate Dean for Community Partnerships and Access to Care
Presenter:
Alicia Gordon, BA, Co-Presidents AAPHD Student Chapter at WesternU CDM
Moderators:
Dr. Anna Chandsawangbhuwana, DDS - WesternU CDM Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Krystle Rapisura, DMD, MS, FAAPD – WesternU CDM Assistant Dean for Community Patient Care
Panelists:
Dr. Paula Ortega-Verdugo, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D., Assistant Professor at UCLA School of Dentistry
Dr. Christina Demopoulos, DDS, MPH, Professor/Associate Dean at UNLV School of Dental Medicine
Dr. Abhi Thakkar, DDS, FICD, FACD, FPFA, Dental Director at Camarena Health
Dr. Arlet Arratonian, DDS, Chief Dental Officer at ParkTree Community Health Center
Seminar Speaker:
Dr. Jennifer Holtzman DDS, MPH, Interim Executive Director at The Center for Oral Health
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Brian Novy, FACD, FADI, FICD.
These distinguished professionals shared their journeys and expertise, inspiring attendees to consider the many impactful roles available in public health dentistry—from community-based care to academic leadership and policy advocacy.
The symposium marked a significant step in fostering collaboration among institutions and reinforcing the importance of public health in dental education and practice. The enthusiastic turnout and engaging dialogue underscored a growing momentum among students to integrate public health principles into their future dental careers.
As the first of its kind for AAPHD, this symposium sets a strong precedent for continued investment in student-led public health initiatives. AAPHD and its partners remain committed to empowering the next generation of dental public health leaders through mentorship, education, and community engagement.
 
 
 
AAPHD 2025 Educational Webinar
AAPHD Joins in Emergency Call to Action
Philanthropic Investment Needed to Prevent Oral Health Crisis Following Federal Cuts
With federal infrastructure for oral health facing significant cuts, we stand at a pivotal moment. What may appear as a setback is also an unprecedented opportunity for philanthropy to lead. To capture this moment, the National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA), the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD), and the American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD) have issued a Call to Action (attached) that outlines how philanthropic leadership can strengthen prevention, workforce, research, and systems-building in ways that will shape the future of oral and overall health.
Your voice and platform are essential in ensuring this message reaches far and wide. We humbly ask for your support in amplifying the Call to Action by:
- Sharing the Call to Action across your networks and communications channels.
- Highlighting the opportunities it presents for philanthropy to fill critical gaps and accelerate innovation.
- Engaging your partners in conversations about how collective action can sustain and expand oral health progress.
By raising awareness together, we can ensure that funders, policymakers, and health leaders recognize both the urgency and opportunity of this moment. Amplification will help mobilize resources and secure the partnerships needed to protect decades of progress—and build the next generation of solutions for prevention and care. See below for the Call to Action!
Read the Full Call to Action
The Call for Abstracts for the 2026 National Oral Health Conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, April 13 -15, 2026 (Weekend Workshops April 11 and 12) NEW DEADLINES
Abstract submissions for the 2026 National Oral Health Conference are now open for General Posters, Oral Presentations, the AAPHD Leverett Graduate Student Merit Awards, Predoctoral Dental Students Awards, and Dental Hygiene Student Awards. Deadline dates are as follows:
General Posters – NOW November 7, 2025
Oral Presentations – NOW November 7, 2025
AAPHD Leverett Graduate Student Merit Awards – NOW November 7, 2025
AAPHD Predoctoral Dental Students Awards – NOW November 7, 2025
AAPHD Dental Hygiene Student Awards – NOW November 7, 2025
Before you begin your submissions, please read the Overview of Abstract Submissions and then review the appropriate Guidelines:
60- and 90-minute sessions
Roundtables
General Posters
Oral Presentations
AAPHD Leverett Graduate Student Merit Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dental Public Health for Master’s and Doctoral Degree Students in Dental Public Health and Dental Public Health Residents
AAPHD Predoctoral Dental Student Merit Award for Outstanding Achievement in Community Dentistry
AAPHD Dental Hygiene Student Merit Award for Outstanding Achievement in Community Dentistry
Weekend Workshops
The planning committee is always interested in identifying new topics and speakers. If you have suggestions for topics for sessions, please send an email with the topic title, suggested presenters, and their contact information to [email protected] and [email protected]. We will follow up and encourage them to submit an abstract. Questions? Please contact the NOHC Office at [email protected].
AAPHD White Paper: Challenges and Strategies to improve access to Oral Health Care in Rural America.
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