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 2027 Award Nominations are Now Open

AAPHD Awards of Merit - Call for Nominations due January 15, 2027

There is no greater acknowledgement than that which comes from our peers. Please help the AAPHD Awards Committee select the recipients for its 2027 Awards of Merit Award Winners. We are seeking nominations for two awards:

• Distinguished Service Award - Presented to a member of AAPHD for excellent and distinguished service to public health dentistry and the association.
• Public Service Award - Presented to an individual for substantial contribution through action related to public health dentistry issues.

Send your letter of nomination along with a short paragraph explaining why you believe this person deserves this award. Please include the nominee's information.

Nominations should be sent by January 15, 2027 to AAPHD at [email protected].

Please visit the website to see a list of past award recipients.

Amos Deinard Award - Call for Nominations due October 30, 2026

This award honors Dr. Amos Deinard, a pediatrician and one of the original medical providers advocating for better medical-dental integration and improved oral health of Americans through engaging non-dental providers in collective efforts. To this end, this award is to be awarded annually to an emerging faculty leader (less than 10 years since graduation of terminal degree). In addition to the recognition of the Award, the awardee with have the registration fee to the annual National Oral Health Conference (NOHC) waived. It is strongly encouraged to attend the annual NOHC to be recognized at the AAPHD Annual Business Meeting on Sunday, April 11, 2027. Potential applicants/nominees can apply from any of the non-dental professions (medicine, nursing, social work, community health worker, educator, public health provider, physician assistant, nurse practitioner).

This award can be applied for by the applicant or through nomination by a colleague or supervisor. Applicants or nominators for the award will write a short letter describing the current and future commitment of the nominee to promotion of oral health clinically and/or educationally in their institutions, community and/or on a public health level. Consideration will be given to the nominee’s commitment to addressing social justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in their oral health efforts and initiatives. Note – it is strongly encouraged to attend the NOHC meeting. The registration fee is waived, but awardees must pay for or find alternative support for their own transportation and accommodation.

Nominations should be sent by October 30, 2026 to AAPHD at [email protected]. 

AAPHD Richard Ferraro Award - Call for Nominations due October 30, 2026

The Richard Ferraro Award is given by the American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD) to honor 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. The Richard Ferraro Award in honor of Dr. Richard Ferraro who was the founding Dental Director in the first community health center in the United States, now known as the Geiger-Gibson Health Center.

The community preventive dentistry program shall have improved the oral health of underserved groups in the community as well as increased their access to continuous and coordinated basic dental care. Underserved groups may include, for example, pre-school or school-age children, senior groups, special needs populations, or any underserved group experiencing access issues to dental care and oral health.

Characteristics of successful FQHC community preventive dentistry programs would include but not be limited to:

• A program that extends the prevention and early diagnosis of oral disease outside the walls of the FQHC dental clinic.
• A program that collaborates with other community organizations such as, childcare of senior adult care organizations.
• A program that has operated for a minimum of three years.
• A program that has been recognized by the leaders in the community in which it exists.
• A program that has an established plan for sustainability.
• A program that can be replicated by other FQHCs.

The award in the amount of $3,000 will be given to the Dental Director of the named FQHC, to support or expand the operation of the winning community dentistry program. Please note, funds cannot be used for salaries.

To nominate an FQHC, please submit a 2 -3 page letter describing the outreach they do by October 30, 2026 to AAPHD at [email protected]. 

Registration Now Open: AAPHD 2026 DPH Board Certifying Exam Preparation Workshop

Registration Now Open: AAPHD 2026 Student Symposium

AAPHD Announces New Journal of Public Health Dentistry Special Issue Focused on Oral Health Equity

AAPHD is pleased to share the Journal of Public Health Dentistry special issue, Forward Together: Advancing Health Equity in Uncertain Times, developed in partnership with CareQuest Institute for Oral Health.

Co-edited by Josefine Ortiz Wolfe and Eleanor Fleming, this special issue brings together researchers, educators, advocates, clinicians, and community leaders to advance oral health equity through workforce development, policy, education, advocacy, research, and community engagement.

The collection explores both persistent disparities and practical strategies to move the field forward amid significant uncertainty across public health and healthcare systems.

Featured articles explore practical and emerging approaches to advancing oral health equity, including workforce development, policy and advocacy, patient perspectives, community- engaged care models, educational innovation, and systems-level strategies designed to improve access, outcomes, and public health impact.

This special issue reflects AAPHD’s ongoing commitment to advancing public health approaches that support equitable oral health outcomes across communities.

AAPHD extends its appreciation to the guest editors, authors, reviewers, editorial contributors, and partner organizations whose work made this issue possible.

Read the Special Issue

Special thank you to CareQuest for underwriting the JPHD Special Issue.

AAPHD Announces Launch of DPH Reference Materials Committee

AAPHD is pleased to highlight the launch of its Dental Public Health Reference Materials Committee, a newly created standing committee of AAPHD that is dedicated to advancing excellence in dental public health education and practice. 

The charge of the DPH Reference Materials Committee is to develop and maintain a curated list of essential dental public health references that aligns with the competencies of the Dental Public Health specialty. This effort supports board examination candidates, program directors, and AAPHD members by providing a trusted, competency-based foundation of key resources. 

The committee is responsible for developing and maintaining a reference list that will be:

• Organized by DPH competency
• Released at NOHC 2027 and updated annually thereafter
• Available to all AAPHD members through the members-only section of the AAPHD website

To ensure relevance and alignment with board certification standards, the committee will work in consultation with the American Board of Dental Public Health (ABDPH). Through this initiative, AAPHD reaffirms its commitment to supporting education and lifelong learning in dental public health by providing members with high-quality, relevant, and accessible reference materials. We are grateful to the inaugural members below for sharing their time and expertise toward this effort.

Members:

• Chair: Sangeeta Gajendra, Eastman Institute for Oral Health 
• Vice Chair: Lyubov Slashcheva, Apple Tree Dental
• Mary Tavares, Boston University
• Sohini Dhar, University of Texas at San Antonio
• Megan Cloidt, Jacobi Medical Center
• Kimberly Raleigh, University of Detroit Mercy 
• Tammy Duangthip, The Ohio State University 
• Darien Weatherspoon, University of Maryland 
• Scott Tomar, University of Illinois Chicago
• Linda Niessen, Kansas City University 
• Gloria Mejia, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 
• Mona Abdelrehim, University of Toronto, Canada 
• Anneta Bitouni, Texas A&M University 
• Dalia Meisha, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia