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!

Exclusive Members Only Webinar: Defending Evidence-Based Oral Health Policy in Politicized Environments

AAPHD Announces the Addition of Four Board Members

The American Association of Public Health Dentistry is proud to announce the election and addition of four distinguished professionals to its Board of Directors. Please join us in welcoming:

President-Elect
Alejandra Valencia, DDS, MPH, MS

Director-at-Large
Megan Cloidt, DDS, MPH

Director-at-Large
Yashashri Urankar, DDS, MPH, FICD, FPFA

Associate Member Board Liaison
Candace Owen, RDH, MS, MPH

Each of these accomplished leaders brings a wealth of experience, innovation, and dedication to advancing public health. Their diverse expertise and commitment to service will further strengthen AAPHD’s mission and strategic vision.

About AAPHD
AAPHD is dedicated to advancing public health through leadership, collaboration, education, and advocacy. The organization supports public health professionals, promotes evidence-based practices, and improves the health and well-being of communities nationwide. Through strategic partnerships, policy development, and professional development initiatives, AAPHD strives to create equitable, sustainable, and impactful public health solutions.

As we navigate evolving public health challenges, adding these new board members reinforces our commitment to strong governance, forward-thinking leadership, and meaningful community impact. We look forward to the contributions and insights these leaders will bring as we continue working together to advance our mission.

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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