The American Institute on Disparities in Public Health

08/21/2026

NEXT THURSDAY, August 27th, CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is hosting a webinar titled “Serving Those Who Served: Community Solutions to Support Better Veteran Oral Health.” AIDPH shares in CareQuests's dedication Veterans' health because we know that Veterans experience a disproportionate burden of oral disease and face unique barriers to accessing dental care. Many veterans struggle with PTSD, trauma, behavioral health conditions, increased to***co and alcohol use, and limited access to dental benefits, all of which contribute to complex oral health needs and increase the risk of adverse outcomes, including oral cancer. To join this important webinar, register here https://shorturl.at/mqwsx

08/17/2026

Join us THIS THURSDAY when we welcome Dr. Angela Settle, CEO of West Virginia Health Right, to discuss caring for Appalachia's most vulnerable population. As CEO of the state’s oldest and largest free and charitable clinic, Dr. Settle has devoted nearly three decades to serving Appalachia’s uninsured and underinsured population. Under her leadership since 2014, the clinic has grown to provide comprehensive medical, dental, vision, behavioral health, and recovery services to more than 46,500 patients annually. Angie has spearheaded innovative programs including statewide mobile medical and dental units, a mobile street medicine initiative, and a mobile teaching kitchen promoting “food as medicine.” She has integrated behavioral health into primary care, expanded clinic sites, and launched workforce development programs such as “Prepped to Serve Appalachia,” training individuals for careers in fine dining. Register here: https://shorturl.at/Jdvqi

08/12/2026

As part of our predoctoral programming hub, AIDPH's "Exploring Public Health in Dentistry Interview Series" is a free 30-minute “career conversation” with dental public health professionals that highlights the diverse career paths available in the field, from research and policy to advocacy and community-based care. Two of our 2026 Colloquium speakers, Maddy Popalis, MPH, PMP and Lindsey Burton-Anderson, MPH, CHES® from the de Beaumont Foundation, explored the opportunities and challenges shaping today's public health workforce. Drawing on the Foundation's expertise in workforce development and public health systems improvement, they discussed strategies to strengthen workforce resilience, support professional well-being, foster innovation, and build organizational cultures that sustain long-term impact. The conversation encouraged predoctoral dental students to consider how leadership, collaboration, and systems thinking contribute to a responsive public health workforce while offering practical ideas for supporting workforce development throughout their careers. Watch anytime at the AIDPH Academy here: https://shorturl.at/Tuqjr

08/04/2026

AIDPH is a proud partner with CareQuest Institute for Oral Health and others in support of this critical campaign. For their service and sacrifice, our veterans deserve dental care. Yet nearly 7 million veterans are ineligible for dental care through the Veterans Health Administration. Fight for our veterans’ oral health. Learn more about what simple actions you can take to help at SupportVeteranSmiles.org
Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqB0OhPaqVo

Nearly 7 million veterans are currently ineligible for dental cover...

07/31/2026

Aloha! We're headed to beautiful Hawaii next month, where we will (virtually) join the Hawaii Oral Health Coalition to discuss all things veteran oral health in Hawaii. According to www.VetDentalData.org, Hawaii holds an impressive “A” on its veteran oral health report card. Join us to learn how stakeholders are improving oral health for the 113,000 veterans in their state. Register to join us here: https://shorturl.at/v6pMh

07/27/2026

Congratulations to our very own AIDPH board member McAllister Castelaz, who recently passed the American Board of Dental Public Health Certifying Examination and is now a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Public Health!
“This achievement is far more than an exam result. It reflects the mentors who challenged me, the colleagues who encouraged me, and the communities that continually remind me why dental public health matters,” said Castelez. Congratulations!

07/23/2026

Our July newsletter just dropped, and it is FULL of educational news and updates (we recap our inaugural Non-Profit Management in Public Health Certificate Program), new research on Community Health Aide Programs and their efficacy in supporting indigenous people in tribal health systems, and trusted resources for advocating for improving Medicaid dental benefits for people with disabilities. Read and sign up for our newsletter here: https://shorturl.at/pGLhT
And Happy Disability Pride Month from the AIDPH team!

07/16/2026

As part of our predoctoral programming hub, AIDPH's "Exploring Public Health in Dentistry Interview Series" is a free 30-minute “career conversation” with dental public health professionals that highlights the diverse career paths available in the field, from research and policy to advocacy and community-based care. From the National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA), Candace Hsu Owen shares her career journey from clinical dental hygiene and academia to leadership in dental public health. Drawing on her experience supporting safety-net oral health programs nationwide, Candace discusses the role of oral-medical integration, interprofessional collaboration, and trauma-informed, culturally responsive care in advancing health equity. Check out the conversation here: https://www.aidphacademy.org/course/2025-lunch-and-learn-series

07/14/2026

Exciting news for veterans in Vermont! Thanks to federal funding through the Elizabeth Dole Act (H.R. 8371), a bipartisan bill passed by Congress in 2024, Vermont is among the first states to implement a pilot program expanding dental benefits to veterans with heart disease. Read more here: https://www.wcax.com/2026/06/27/dentistry-going-mobile-through-new-va-pilot-program/

07/13/2026

Applications are open for just a little while longer to apply for AIDPH's 2026/2027 Dental Public Health Leadership Academy. DPHLA is a 12-month virtual fellowship designed to elevate and empower early- to mid-career professionals who desire formal training in leadership principles and want to apply their skills in oral health and public health work. It is AIDPH’s goal to create an experience that provides tangible benefits to both fellows and their affiliated organizations. Learn more and apply here: aidph.org/dphla