08/24/2026
Thank you and congratulations to Dr. Sakshi Sharma, BDS, MHA, MPH! 👏
Through the Connecticut Department of Public Health’s Mentorship Program, COHI had the opportunity to work with Sakshi, a Master of Public Health student at the University of New Haven.
During her internship, Sakshi researched “Unlocking Dental Benefits with Medicare in Connecticut,” examining the longstanding gap in dental coverage for Medicare beneficiaries and the impact that lack of access to oral healthcare can have on overall health. Her research explored the history and policy framework behind Medicare’s exclusion of routine dental services, as well as the clinical and financial consequences of untreated oral health needs. She highlighted how untreated oral disease can contribute to complications for individuals managing chronic conditions and can create barriers to important medical procedures, while also increasing reliance on more costly emergency care.
COHI was honored to attend the celebration of Sakshi’s poster presentation at the Connecticut Department of Public Health, where she shared her research and highlight the importance of addressing oral health as an essential part of overall health.
Sakshi’s work helped COHI better understand the policy landscape surrounding Medicare dental coverage and the opportunities to advocate for improved access to oral healthcare for Connecticut’s older adults. We are grateful for the time, research, and perspective Sakshi brought to COHI and appreciate the Connecticut Department of Public Health for providing this mentorship opportunity!
