Careers in Dental Public Health ADEA Career Con

Careers in Dental Public Health ADEA Career. Con 2016

Why Choose a Career in Public Health Dentistry?

Why Choose a Career in Public Health Dentistry? • Public health dentists promote oral health by: – assessing the oral health needs of the community – developing and implementing oral health policy – providing programs and services that address oral health issues – serve the community as a patient rather than the individual

Comparison of the Dental Clinician and the Dental Public Health Practitioner Dental Clinician Dental Public Health Practitioner Focuses on the individual patient Focuses on the community Conducts examination Implements oral health surveillance systems Establishes diagnosis Analyzes and interprets data from surveys, surveillance systems, and other data sources Discusses findings with patient; develops treatment plan Engages community partners and forms community oral health coalitions Provides treatment Implements community-based oral health programs Receives payment for services Obtains funding to operate programs Schedules periodic follow-up visits Conducts program evaluation

What is a Dental Public Health (DPH) Dentist? • DPH is: – a specialty of dentistry since 1950 – the science and art of preventing and controlling dental diseases and promoting dental health through organized community efforts

What is a Dental Public Health (DPH) Dentist?

The Ten Essential Public Health Services • Monitor health status to identify community health problems • Assess health problems and health hazards in the community • Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues • Mobilize community partnerships to identify and solve health problems • Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts • Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety • Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable • Assure a competent public health and personal health care workforce • Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services • Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems

Components of the Dental Public Health Infrastructure • Government: State and local health departments, as well as federal agencies: – Indian Health Service (HIS) – Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) – the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) – Agency for Children and Families (ACF) – National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Commissioned Corps of the U. S. Public Health Service (USPHS) – Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)

Components of the Dental Public Health Infrastructure • Education: an interdisciplinary approach to patient care and increased medical/dental collaboration: – Schools of Dentistry, Dental Hygiene, and Public Health – Schools of Medicine, Nursing, and other allied Health Sciences – Dental residencies, and dental public health fellowships

Components of the Dental Public Health Infrastructure • Workforce: dental and non-dental providers: – Dentist, dental hygienists, dental assistants – Physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, midwives, pharmacists, nurses, home health aides – Water plant operators, teachers, parents, school administrators, health boards, community health workers, and promotoras

Accredited Dental Public Health Residencies • A. T. Still University • University of California, San Francisco • Case Western Reserve University • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention • Columbia University • Harvard University • New York State Department of Health • University of North Carolina • Texas A & M • Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio • University of Toronto • The University of Iowa • NIDCR • Boston University • New York Lutheran Medical Center • Temple University

Training Required for a Dental Public Health Specialist 1. MPH degree followed by a DPH residency: • MPH can be from any accredited U. S. program or foreign equivalent • Equivalent graduate degrees are acceptable, but must include course work in: epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy & management, environmental health and behavioral science

Training Required for a Dental Public Health Specialist 1. MPH degree followed by a DPH residency: • Residencies are of 1 year duration • Residencies may be located at a state health department, federal agency, academic institution or other site • Residencies often require completion of an independent project, or work on an institutional project

Training Required for a Dental Public Health Specialist 2. 2+ year degree program (Masters), specific to Dental Public Health: • Most are of 2 years duration • No prior MPH required • Combines elements of MPH and residency into one program • Are degree programs resulting in Master of Science or other degree

Training Required for a Dental Public Health Specialist 2. 2+ year degree program (Masters), specific to Dental Public Health: • Affiliated with academic institutions – Often research focused – May require completion of a thesis

Training Required for a Dental Public Health Specialist Other Information: • Both pathways require DDS/DMD or equivalent • Most consider foreign applicants • Test results, such as TOEFL, GRE or NBDE, may be required for admission • Costs and levels of support vary by program

Training Required for a Dental Public Health Specialist There are two distinct pathways for Dental Public Health specialty training: 1. Master of Public Health (MPH) degree (or equivalent) followed by a Dental Public Health residency. 2. A 2+ year degree program (Masters), specific to Dental Public Health

Perspectives: Dental Public Health Resident Vy Nguyen, DDS, MPH Dental Public Health Resident University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Why did you decide to pursue dental public health? My interest in public health started when I was in dental school. Participating in community health events and an IHS externship initially exposed me to dental public health and how, as a dental professional, I could impact the oral health of underserved and vulnerable populations. Why did you decide to do the dental public health residency program? I felt the residency program would provide me with a solid dental public health foundation built upon the basic public health principles and concepts from my general MPH program while integrating my clinical knowledge and previous work experience to enhance my role as the State Public Health Dental Director.

Perspectives: Dental Public Health Resident What has your experience been like? The program gave me additional learning opportunities in other areas of public health that I had less experience in - such as teaching and research. The learning opportunities were tailored to not only prepare me for the board exam, but also took into account my previous experience while supporting my particular career goals and interests. What are your career aspirations? Throughout my dental public health career, I have been fortunate enough to have opportunities to work within the various levels of government – local, state, and federal. As I move forward and complete my dental public health residency, I hope to bring what I’ve learned from the program to my current role as a dental officer within HRSA.

Want more information? • Visit the AAPHD Website: https: //aaphd. memberclicks. net • Information about DPH Education: https: //aaphd. memberclicks. net/education – – DPH Residency Programs MPH Programs Dental Public Health Competencies Certification as a DPH Specialist • Video: https: //aaphd. memberclicks. net/student-chapters – Careers in Dental Public Health – DPH Policies and Challenges – Starting a Student-run Dental Clinic • Horowitz Scholarship: https: //aaphd. memberclicks. net/horowitzscholarship • HRSA National Health Services Corps: http: //nhsc. hrsa. gov

Why Choose a Career in Public Health Dentistry? “I had stopped growing intellectually. So I decided to come back to school. I was going to pursue a dual Masters in Dental Public Health and Pediatric Dentistry. . Fortunately for me, I started the program in Dental Public Health first and got hooked on research. It appealed to my temperament - the intrigue of asking questions, finding solutions, applying them and seeing results on a population level. ” ~Ana Karina Mascarenhas, BDS, MPH, Dr. PH I am chair of a department that is engaged in a wide variety of research projects. These deal with oral health disparities, dentalsystemic disease connections, issues with aging and oral health, prevention, and genetic and environmental risks to oral health. . The entire experience of dental public health training and my subsequent career has been most rewarding. ” ~ Robert Weyant, DMD, MPH, Dr. PH “A DPH career is an ongoing blend of oral medicine, informatics, epidemiology and bio-statistics, legal and public policy analysis, program planning and evaluation, public administration, diplomacy, politics, being mentored and mentoring, public relations and advocacy, . . . ” ~Mark H. K. Greer, DMD, MPH

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