The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #39269

Joan Y. Reede, MD, MPH, MS, Diversity and Community Partnership, Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Public Health, 164 Longwood Ave. Rm 210, Boston, MA 02115, 617/432-2413, joan_reede@hms.harvard.edu

The lack of racial and ethnic diversity in oral health professions and oral health policy has limited public health capacity to address oral health disparities and, therefore, to meet Healthy People 2010 oral health objectives. In response to this challenge, the HRSA Oral Health Program at the Harvard Medical School was established to prepare outstanding dentists, particularly minority dentists, for leadership positions in oral health policy and public health.

In collaboration with Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Harvard University and Office of Minority Health, DHHS, this full-time, academic degree-granting program grants two two-year fellowships per year. Fellows complete academic work leading to an MPH or MPA during the first year and acquire internship experience in HRSA during the second year. The program provides: (1) academic training in leadership, health policy and cultural competence; (2) leadership forums and seminar series to address major oral health issues; (3) development of a network of health professional leaders capable of advancing successfully among the public, nonprofit, and academic sectors; and (4) first-hand experience in federal agencies, allowing fellows to apply academic training into a practical setting. The program is based on the recognition that development of a cadre of minority leaders in oral health policy holds key to reducing and ultimately eliminating health disparities.

Learning Objectives:

• · Exploring thoroughly the basic strategies and approaches essential for enhancing diversity in workforce and health policy
• · Building up effective partnership between academia and the federal government for the development of a cadre of dentist-leaders in minority health and public health dentistry

Keywords: Leadership, Workforce

Related Web page: www.mfdp.med.harvard.edu/fellows_faculty/oral_health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.