HDA News & Reports Newsletter Fall 2012

&NewsReports

Issue Number 169 - Summer 2012“As the leading voice for Hispanic oral health we provide SERVICE, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, and LEADERSHIP for the elimination of oral health disparities in the Hispanic community.”

National Headquarters: 3085 Stevenson Drive, Suite 200

Springfield, IL 62703

Phone: 217.529.6517www.hdassoc.org

Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® Helps Kick Off Historic Multi-Cultural Oral Health Summit

As a prelude to the first-ever Multicultural Oral Health Summit hosted recently in Boca Raton by the National Dental Association, Hispanic Dental Association and Society of American Indian Dentists, Colgate-Palmolive Company dispatched one of its Bright Smiles, Bright Futures mobile dental vans to the Peter Blum Family YMCA to provide free dental screenings and oral health education for more than 150 children enrolled in Y programs. Amid a festival of music, activities and costumed characters, the children boarded the Bright Smiles, Bright Futures van for dental screenings, visited with Colgate mascot Dr. Rabbit, and took turns playing oral health games that emphasized the importance of maintaining good oral health habits. The Multi-cultural Oral Health Summit provided dentists, auxiliaries, students, community leaders, corporations and other stakeholders interested in improving oral health a forum to discuss the issues that impact diverse communities across the nation. Colgate’s fleet of Bright Smiles, Bright Futures dental vans visit over 1,000 cities and towns each year in the U.S. and reach more than 10 million children.

Bottom Row: Margo Melchor, Graciela Hernandez, Millie McClain, Aidee Nieto-Herman. Second Row: Adriana Semprum, Vidal Balderas, Martha Baez, Phil Pierpont. Third Row: Pamela Shaw, Kenneth Mays, Nick Panomitros. Fourth Row: Helana Tapias, Romer Ocanto and Anne Clancy.

HDA Hosts Faculty Advisor Workshop On July 21, 2012 HDA held its first Faculty Advisor Workshop at the Multi-Cultural Oral Health Summit in Boca Raton, Florida. Ms. Margo Melchor, RDH, MEd (Immediate Past President and Chair of Faculty Advisor Committee) facilitated this all-day workshop with the assistance of committee member, Dr. Helena Tapias which was made possible through the support of DentaQuest. In attendance were 15 participants: Dr. Romer Ocanto (Nova Southeastern University),

Drs. Adriana Semprum and Darryl Pendleton (University of Illinois at Chicago), Dr. Aidee Nieto-Herman (Tufts University), Dr. Kenneth May

(University of Michigan, School of Dentistry), Dr. Millie McClain (University of Nevada Las Vegas), Dr. Luz Marina Aguirre (Columbia University, School of

Dental Medicine), Dr. Nick Panomitros and Ms. Anne Clancy, RDH, MEd (Kennedy King College), Dr. Helena Tapias (Baylor College of Dentistry), Dr. Pamella Shaw (Indiana

University, School of Dentistry), Mrs. Martha Baez, RDH, MPH (UTHSC-San Antonio), Drs. Graciela Hernandez, Phil Pierpont and Ms. Margo Melchor, RDH, MEd(UT-Houston, School of Dentistry).

Pictured taking part in the Bright Smiles, Bright Futures festival are (left to right): Dr. Rabbit; Lilia Larin, DDS, President, Hispanic Dental Association; Dr. Marsha Butler, Vice President, Global Oral Health and Professional Relations, Colgate-Palmolive Company; Ruth W. Bol, DDS, MPH, President, Society of American Indian Dentists, and Roy L. Irons, DDS, President, National Dental Association.

Continued on page 4

2 HDA News & Reports Issue No. 169 Summer 2012 217.529.6517

Message from the President

2012 Board of TrusteesPresident

Lilia Larin, DDSNational City, California

President-ElectMaritza Morell, DDS, MS, MPH

Boston, Massachusetts

Vice PresidentTyrone Rodriguez, DDS

Yakima, Washington

TreasurerIrubiel Barbosa, DDSLos Angeles, California

Immediate Past PresidentMargo Y. Melchor, RDH, MEd

Houston, Texas

Trustees

Vidal Balderas, DDS, MPHSan Antonio, Texas

Amaralis Jacobo, DDSNew York, NY

Mildred McClain, , PHN, PhDLas Vegas, NV

Lauro Medrano-Saldana, DDSBrooklyn, New York

Frank Ramos, DDSSan Antonio, TX

Esperanza Rodriguez, DDSBronx, New York

Adriana Segura, DDS, MSSan Antonio, Texas

Myriam Zambrano, RDH, BSDHHouston, Texas

Student TrusteeMelissa Uriegas

Edinburg, TX

Executive DirectorC. Yolanda Bonta, DMD, MS, MS

Somerset, New Jersey

This year’s Hispanic Dental Association’s annual meeting was a phenomenal success! Our 2012 Joint Summit provided a platform for HDA’s continued growth by empowering our voice through partnership and collaboration . Many thanks to the National Dental Association, the Society of American Indian Dentists and to all our supporters and collaborators for believing in the spirit of unity. It took dedication, hard work, commitment and extraordinary passion to make this a truly historic event! The HDA annual meeting award’s luncheon was sponsored by HDA founding member Colgate Palmolive and hosted by “Despierta America” star Ms. Karla Martinez. I would like to recognize our 2012 student and faculty award winners. Your hard work and dedication merits outstanding recognition ( pictures inside) ! Congratulations also to our second annual HDA women’s SEAL award recipients Lilly Garcia from Texas and Paula Vogel from Oregon. HDA’s presidential award went to my colleague and mentor Francisco Ramos-Gomez.

As Cesar Chavez once said “The fight is never about the grapes or the lettuce it’s always about the people” so “The Hispanic Dental Association says it’s about the elimination of oral health disparities for the people!” Our awardees help deliver that promise.

HDA’s “Fall for Smiles” Capitol Hill Advocacy Day took place on September 12th in Washington DC. The HDA , Oral Health America and Crest-Oral B partnered in highlighting the results of our recent survey “Hispanics Open up about Oral Health”. Andrew Kaffes HDA’s D.C. Liaison helped secure congressional visits for HDA representatives and a Capitol Hill briefing with an inspirational keynote address by Congresswomen (and past dental assistant) Loretta Sanchez from California. Many thank’s to Tyrone Rodriguez HDA vice-president and legislative committee chair, HDA past president’s Sarita Arteaga , Ivan Lugo, Victor Rodriguez and HDA Executive Director Yolanda Bonta for advocating on behalf of HDA during Hispanic Heritage month. We hope to see more of you next year for an opportunity to express your concerns and help create unique opportunities for the future. Summer was full of energy and as Autumn arrives HDA prepares for its own transition through a new national office relocation. With renewed strength and new thoughts HDA will continue to prosper and grow in it’s own independent office. Our most sincere appreciation goes out to MRSI our current association management company, HDA staff and HDA’s ED Yolanda Bonta for their valued service and unwavering support throughout the years. More news to follow ...

Please mark your calendars!HDA’s 2013 annual meeting will be held on September 26-28, 2013 in Boston Massachusetts at the Boston Marriott Copley Place Hotel.

Mil Gracias,

Lilia Larin, DDS - 2012 HDA President

Lilia Larin, DDSPresident, HDA

HDA News & Reports Issue No. 169 Summer 2012 3 www.hdassoc.org

HDA News & Reports is published four times annually by the Hispanic Dental Association, and distributed to members and other dental professionals interested in the oral health of the Hispanic population.

©2012 Hispanic Dental Association

National Headquarters: 3085 Stevenson Drive, Suite 200

Springfield, IL 62703Phone: 217.529.6517

Fax: 217.529.9120E-Mail: [email protected]

www.hdassoc.org

C. Yolanda Bonta, HDA Executive DirectorTamiko Kinkade, Newsletter Editor

Bonnie Chandler, Acting Associate Director

Message from the Executive Director

C. Yolanda Bonta, DMD, MS, MSExecutive Director, HDA

Dear HDA Colleagues

Technology is a wonderful resource: on the HDA website, we are able to identify were the interest for web searches are focused. Each month an overwhelming number of we hits land on the scholarships. Our future colleagues in the dental profession seek out the HDA Foundation and scholarship opportunities. Currently these are available through the HDA foundation, corporate sponsored scholarships, named scholarships (Dr Juan Villareal) and chapter sponsored scholarships. In 2012, HDA has provided over $20, 000 in scholarships . Many of us have been the recipient of assistance at some point in our careers. If you would like to contribute and pass on the help to a future colleague consider the scholarship fund. Or perhaps you would like to honor a teacher or special person, like Mom or Dad who has made a difference in your career. Simply Press Donate button on home page.

Dr. C. Yolanda Bonta

Did you know that the HDA website has great information on Dental

Careers, Education and Resources as well as information about community outreach

opportunities.

Check it out at:www.hdassoc.org

2012 Colgate HDA “Ascend the Summit” Leadership Circle Award Recipient

Vidal Garza Balderas DDS, MPH Dr. Vidal Balderas, DDS, MPH was presented with the Colgate Ascend the Summit Award during the 2012 Multi-Cultural Oral Health Summit held in July of this year in Boca Raton, Florida. Dr. Balderas is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry at the University of Texas Health Science Center. He earned his Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree from University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio-Dental School in 1984. In 2006, he earned a Master’s degree in Public Health Administration from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health. He completed a two year Dental Public Health residency at UTHSCSA-Dental School in 2008. Currently Dr. Balderas is the Director of several programs at the University of Texas Health Science at San Antonio Dental School, one for Migrant Children a school-based dental program, and another for short term mission trips along the U.S./ Mexico Border “colonias” providing opportunities for dental students to deliver care to vulnerable populations. Recently Dr. Balderas was named director of a new Pre-Doctorate Primary Dental Care Program for the Homeless.

Survey of Underrepresented Minority DentistsThe first ever National Survey of Underrepresented Minority Dentists in the United States is about to be launched by the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry and Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Dental Department. The HDA has been engaged in the development of this survey and strongly endorses it. The purpose of this study is to understand what factors help underrepresented minority dentists have a successful career path as well as to document the contributions of minority providers to the oral health system. The survey is a chance to voice your opinion about critical issues facing minority dental providers today. If you receive the survey in the mail we strongly encourage you to take the time to respond, and thank you in advance for your participation! If you have any questions about the study please contact Alexis Cooke, MPH at 1-877-231-0863 or [email protected].


Message from the Legislative Consultant

HDA Tells Capitol Hill: Oral Health Education, Prevention for U.S.

Hispanics Urgently Needed

The Hispanic Dental Association teamed with Oral Health America (OHA) and Crest and Oral-B to raise awareness on Capitol Hill about the urgent need for oral health education and prevention among the U.S. Hispanic population on September 12, 2012 as part of the second annual Fall for Smiles® campaign led by OHA.

The full day of events included a morning congressional briefing that centered on the HDA-led survey titled “Hispanics Open Up About Oral Health Care,” which was sponsored by Crest and Oral-B. Sarita Arteaga, DMD, MAGD, associate clinical professor, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, HDA Foundation Committee Member; and R. Iván Lugo, DMD, MBA, Oral Care Professional and Scientific Relations, regional manager for North America and Puerto Rico, Procter & Gamble presented the survey findings. The survey findings demonstrated that the U.S. Hispanic population lags behind the general population when it comes to basic oral health. Veronica Sanchez, PhD, Global Oral Care ER Scientific Communication, Procter & Gamble introduced Drs. Arteaga and Lugo.

Thanks to the outreach efforts of HDA, U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) was the briefing’s keynote speaker. She delivered emotional and passionate remarks to the audience that reflected upon her personal experiences as a dental assistant. HDA President Dr. Larin introduced the congresswoman. The morning session began with welcome remarks from Dr. Larin and Keith Suchy, DDS, chair, Oral Health America (OHA) Board of Directors. HDA Executive Director Dr. Yolanda Bonta, who coordinated with HDA’s partners at OHA and Crest and Oral-B, also attended the congressional briefing. During legislative visits on that day, Dr. Larin met with her member of Congress, U.S. Representative Bob Filner (D-CA) and HDA Vice President and Legislative Committee Chairman Dr. Tyrone Rodriguez met with his member of Congress, U.S. Representative Doc Hastings (R-WA). Both meetings proved fruitful as the legislators were briefing about the survey findings and the oral health issues affecting their respective congressional districts. They were joined in their meetings by Dr. Arteaga. The HDA leadership also met U.S. Representatives Paul Gosar, DDS (R-AZ), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) during its walk through the halls of Congress.As part of the overall effort to educate members of Congress, an HDA-initiated “Dear Colleague” letter on Hispanic oral health that highlighted the survey was supported in strong bipartisan fashion and circulated by U.S. Representatives Mike Simpson (R-ID) and Elijah Cummings (D-MD), co-chairmen, Congressional Oral Health Caucus. The letter also had the support of U.S. Representatives Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), and Paul Gosar (R-AZ), all of who are members of the Oral Health Caucus and who signed on to the letter. HDA continues to make significant progress with its outreach to Capitol Hill. This is the second consecutive year HDA has held a congressional briefing on Capitol Hill. The organization looks to increase participation among its grassroots members in September 2013 when HDA aspires to hold its next Capitol Hill event.

Andrew KaffesLegislative Consultant

Prior to this workshop, two surveys were composed by the Faculty Advisor Committee (Drs. Vidal Balderas, Michael Lopez, Adriana Segura, Helena Tapias and Ms. Margo Melchor, RDH, MEd) and sent to the HDA Faculty Advisors and the HSDA Presidents about their participation in their student chapters, types of HSDA activities, fundraising opportunities, and degree of institutional support. The workshop began with Ms. Melchor providing a presentation of the survey results, followed by a presentation on “Mentoring” by Dr. Phil Pierpont, Associate Dean of Student Affairs. After the presentations, the participants broke into groups and shared activities and ideas of their HSDA chapters. In the afternoon portion of the workshop, the HSDA Presidents or a representative were invited to join the Faculty Advisors to share ideas, suggestions or concerns of their HSDA chapters. The HDA Faculty Advisor Committee felt it was important to hear the voices of the students. This workshop enabled a setting where everyone came together to exchange information and help strengthen the productivity of the HSDA chapters. The results of this historical workshop were for the faculty advisors to engage more with their HSDA chapters, request institutional support (if applicable), and use of information that was exchanged.

Faculty Adisor Training... Continued from page 1


Congressional Oral Health Caucus Letter circulated to members of Congress

Dr. Tyronne Rodriguez addresses the panel regarding student loans of practitioners that want to serve in underserved areas.

While in Washington, DC, members of the HDA also participated in the panel discussion on Affordable Care Act in the West Wing of the White House.

HDA President Dr. Lilia Larin with her Congressman Bob Filner


The Hispanic Dental Association celebrated its second annual "Capi-tol Hill Advocacy Day" on Wednesday, September 12th in Washing-ton DC . HDA partnered with Oral Health America and Crest-Oral B for this year's "Fall for Smiles" congressional briefing and oral health campaign. HDA President Dr. Lilia Larin and HDA Vice-President Dr. Tyrone Rodriguez met with members of Congress to discuss priorities for improving oral health among the Hispanic community. The HDA-led survey "Hispanics Open Up About Oral Health" was key focus in the discussion. Dr.Larin and Dr. Rodriguez also attended the National Hispanic Medical Association's White House Briefing that provided an update on the Affordable Care Act and Hispanics.

HDA 2012 Capitol Hill Day

HDA Past President Dr. Ivan Lugo, Oral Care Professional and Scientific Relations, Regional Manager for North America and

Puerto Rico, Procter & Gamble

Veronica Sanchez PhD from Crest-Oral B with HDA Past-President Dr. Ivan Lugo and HDA Foundation President Dr. Sarita Arteaga

“Hispanics Open Up About Oral Health” survey speakers.Congresswomen Loretta Sanchez

HDA, Oral Health America, and Crest-Oral B Fall For Smiles “Day On Hill” representatives with Congresswomen Loretta Sanchez

HDA President Larin and HDA Vice-President Tyrone Rodriguez with OHA and Crest-Oral B Day on HIll partners

Phot

os: B

ill P

etro

s


Our experience with the Colgate Van was unforgettable. We had the opportunity to help recruit children and encourage them to receive a free dental screening, as well as some oral hygiene instructions and free goodie bags. It was very rewarding to see the anxious kids walk in the van with a scared look, and then walk out with a smile on their faces and saying things like: "The dentist is fun!" or "I want to go back in!" We were very pleased to participate and help increase the number of children screened in one day from the average 20-30 kids, to more than 70 in a period of 4 hours. We had some bilingual volunteers talking to Hispanic families that were very excited to have people speaking in their language about the Oral health of their kids, and encouraging them to go to the dentist and continuously receive the dental care needed. These Hispanics families had lots of questions that they have had for a long time and were not able to communicate until that day, and that was very rewarding for me because I know I have an impact in the community even if I am just starting with a few families at a time. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to help our community and we are looking forward to participate in future events!

Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright FuturesLida Paez, HSDA Chapter President, Class of 2014

Georgia Health Sciences University - College of Dental Medicine


A Diverse PopulationIt is well-known that the profession is having difficulty enrolling and

retaining not only underrepresented minority dentists— Latinos,

African-Americans, and Native Americans—but also dental public

health professionals who have the aspiration and resources to work

in improving the health of underserved populations.

It cannot simply be said that more Hispanic or Latino dentists

are needed, because the study of Latino health behavior and

health outcome is quite complex. The Latino population includes

Mexican, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and Central and South Americans,

as well as first and second generations of American-born

Latinos. It includes persons who immigrated a long time

ago, along with recent immigrants, and persons from rural

areas who may be low literate, as well as those who came

highly educated from their countries. Therefore, more

cultural awareness and competency are needed when

working with Latino communities, in order to improve oral

health promotion and access to oral health care, and when

discussing treatment approaches.

PANEL LEADER

Maria Rosa Watson, DDS, MS, DrPH

Research Director, Primary Care Coalition of Montgomery County, Inc., Maryland

PANEL OBJECTIVES

• Describe the current dental care delivery system within the United States and international models.

• Assess workforce models currently used in medicine and clarify feasibility for use in the dental workforce.

• Construct strategies for recruitment of Hispanic providers into the dental workforce.

• Understand potential solutions for the concerns surrounding workforce diversity and how collaborative

efforts can be achieved.

Oral Health CommunicationWhen stratifying the U.S. population by race/ethnicity categories—

Hispanic, Asian, American Indian, black non-Hispanic, white non-

Hispanic—the more education each sub-group of the population

has, the better its health indicators. Unless education is brought

to vulnerable populations that do not have access to regular health

care and oral health care sources, there will be little impact on

health disparities.

Because communication is linked to health outcomes, it is

important to have more minority dentists as well as professionals and

dental staff who can speak Spanish and communicate proficiently

with different segments of the population. The communication skills

of the dental team are pivotal to increasing oral health literacy skills

of the population. Additional existing barriers in the oral health care

system need to be addressed, including cumbersome third-payer

and insurance programs with difficult paperwork that low-literacy/

low-income populations cannot understand, as well as the high-

literacy level of existing dental and health promotion materials.

When patients are reached on a one-on-one basis, and provided

health navigation and case management, they become more receptive

and understand the health message better. Low-literacy/low-income

populations, albeit while trying to resolve other life-sustaining issues,

want to learn about oral health promotion if given the opportunity.

Moreover, community participatory approaches to health promotion

are particularly effective in reaching population groups who otherwise

have not been reached by other preventive initiatives. The use of

primary preventive methods with accompanying health promotion

and education is the most effective means of decreasing dental

disease and promoting oral health.

WWW.HDASSOC.ORG

VISIT THIS ADDRESS TO READ THE FULL TEXT OF THIS PRESENTATION ONLINE

Action Steps for HDA

IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH ACCESS TO SERVICES FOR HISPANICS AND THE UNDERSERVED THROUGH WORKFORCE DIVERSITY

PANEL LEADER


PANEL COORDINATOR

Sarita Arteaga, DMD, MAGD

• Integrate Promatoras into the

workforce models.

• Take advantage of ongoing national

initiatives (Cultural Competencies for All).

• Provide tailored presentations to local

dental societies to expose diversity to the

dental community.

• Support models that can support efficacy

in delivery of alternative health care.

• Promote contractural agreements for private

dentists with FHQCs.

• Use media to raise awareness.

• Collaborate with other underrepresented

minority groups.

• Provide long-term evaluation of dental

pipeline and disseminate funding

information for students.

• Provide database of mentors for

future professionals.

• Promote student chapters to serve as

role models and go into local high schools

for recruitment.

• Conduct surveillance on the ethnicity of who

is giving care and the quality of care.

• Work with Hispanic Association of

Colleges and Universities as a resource for

recruitment and reach Pre-Health Advisors.

• Use foreign-trained dentists as a model.

• Fill the gap and influence community

education through pilot models.

THE FULL LIST OF PANEL PARTICIPANTS IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT WWW.HDASSOC.ORG

READ THE FULL DISCUSSION ONLINE AT WWW.HDASSOC.ORG

Education is Linked with Health Regardless of Racial or Ethnic Group

Improving Oral Health Access to Services for Hispanics and the Underserved through Workforce Diversity BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND HEALTH INFORMATION AND HOW TO OBTAIN SERVICES IS CRITICAL TO ORAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT.

Perc

ent

of A

dult

s, A

ges

25-7

5 ye

ars,

In L

ess

Tha

n Ve

ry G

ood

Hea

lth

72.7

84.1

70.4 70.6 71.069.4

62.2

67.2

59.460.9

57.5

50.054.7 54.1

48.6

57.5

49.7

41.443.6 41.0 41.8

36.5

26.7

Black, Non-Hispanic White, Non-HispanicOtherHispanic Asian American Indianor Alaska Native

Less than high-school graduate

High-school graduate

Some college

College graduate

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

0%

10%

20%

30%

50%

60%

40%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Source: 2004-2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

39.5 45.2%

19.0%

U.S. Overall

National Benchmark

Hispanic Dental Association MissionAs the leading voice for Hispanic oral health, we provide Service,

Education, Advocacy, and Leadership for the elimination of oral

health disparities in the Hispanic community.

SYMPOSIUM PANEL DISCUSSION


A Diverse PopulationIt is well-known that the profession is having difficulty enrolling and

retaining not only underrepresented minority dentists— Latinos,

African-Americans, and Native Americans—but also dental public

health professionals who have the aspiration and resources to work

in improving the health of underserved populations.

It cannot simply be said that more Hispanic or Latino dentists

are needed, because the study of Latino health behavior and

health outcome is quite complex. The Latino population includes

Mexican, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and Central and South Americans,

as well as first and second generations of American-born

Latinos. It includes persons who immigrated a long time

ago, along with recent immigrants, and persons from rural

areas who may be low literate, as well as those who came

highly educated from their countries. Therefore, more

cultural awareness and competency are needed when

working with Latino communities, in order to improve oral

health promotion and access to oral health care, and when

discussing treatment approaches.

PANEL LEADER


Research Director, Primary Care Coalition of Montgomery County, Inc., Maryland

PANEL OBJECTIVES

• Describe the current dental care delivery system within the United States and international models.

• Assess workforce models currently used in medicine and clarify feasibility for use in the dental workforce.

• Construct strategies for recruitment of Hispanic providers into the dental workforce.

• Understand potential solutions for the concerns surrounding workforce diversity and how collaborative

efforts can be achieved.

Oral Health CommunicationWhen stratifying the U.S. population by race/ethnicity categories—

Hispanic, Asian, American Indian, black non-Hispanic, white non-

Hispanic—the more education each sub-group of the population

has, the better its health indicators. Unless education is brought

to vulnerable populations that do not have access to regular health

care and oral health care sources, there will be little impact on

health disparities.

Because communication is linked to health outcomes, it is

important to have more minority dentists as well as professionals and

dental staff who can speak Spanish and communicate proficiently

with different segments of the population. The communication skills

of the dental team are pivotal to increasing oral health literacy skills

of the population. Additional existing barriers in the oral health care

system need to be addressed, including cumbersome third-payer

and insurance programs with difficult paperwork that low-literacy/

low-income populations cannot understand, as well as the high-

literacy level of existing dental and health promotion materials.

When patients are reached on a one-on-one basis, and provided

health navigation and case management, they become more receptive

and understand the health message better. Low-literacy/low-income

populations, albeit while trying to resolve other life-sustaining issues,

want to learn about oral health promotion if given the opportunity.

Moreover, community participatory approaches to health promotion

are particularly effective in reaching population groups who otherwise

have not been reached by other preventive initiatives. The use of

primary preventive methods with accompanying health promotion

and education is the most effective means of decreasing dental

disease and promoting oral health.

WWW.HDASSOC.ORG

VISIT THIS ADDRESS TO READ THE FULL TEXT OF THIS PRESENTATION ONLINE

Action Steps for HDA

IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH ACCESS TO SERVICES FOR HISPANICS AND THE UNDERSERVED THROUGH WORKFORCE DIVERSITY

PANEL LEADER


PANEL COORDINATOR

Sarita Arteaga, DMD, MAGD

• Integrate Promatoras into the

workforce models.

• Take advantage of ongoing national

initiatives (Cultural Competencies for All).

• Provide tailored presentations to local

dental societies to expose diversity to the

dental community.

• Support models that can support efficacy

in delivery of alternative health care.

• Promote contractural agreements for private

dentists with FHQCs.

• Use media to raise awareness.

• Collaborate with other underrepresented

minority groups.

• Provide long-term evaluation of dental

pipeline and disseminate funding

information for students.

• Provide database of mentors for

future professionals.

• Promote student chapters to serve as

role models and go into local high schools

for recruitment.

• Conduct surveillance on the ethnicity of who

is giving care and the quality of care.

• Work with Hispanic Association of

Colleges and Universities as a resource for

recruitment and reach Pre-Health Advisors.

• Use foreign-trained dentists as a model.

• Fill the gap and influence community

education through pilot models.

THE FULL LIST OF PANEL PARTICIPANTS IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT WWW.HDASSOC.ORG

READ THE FULL DISCUSSION ONLINE AT WWW.HDASSOC.ORG

Education is Linked with Health Regardless of Racial or Ethnic Group

Improving Oral Health Access to Services for Hispanics and the Underserved through Workforce Diversity BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND HEALTH INFORMATION AND HOW TO OBTAIN SERVICES IS CRITICAL TO ORAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT.

Perc

ent

of A

dult

s, A

ges

25-7

5 ye

ars,

In L

ess

Tha

n Ve

ry G

ood

Hea

lth

72.7

84.1

70.4 70.6 71.069.4

62.2

67.2

59.460.9

57.5

50.054.7 54.1

48.6

57.5

49.7

41.443.6 41.0 41.8

36.5

26.7

Black, Non-Hispanic White, Non-HispanicOtherHispanic Asian American Indianor Alaska Native

Less than high-school graduate

High-school graduate

Some college

College graduate

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

0%

10%

20%

30%

50%

60%

40%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Source: 2004-2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

39.5 45.2%

19.0%

U.S. Overall

National Benchmark

Hispanic Dental Association MissionAs the leading voice for Hispanic oral health, we provide Service,

Education, Advocacy, and Leadership for the elimination of oral

health disparities in the Hispanic community.

SYMPOSIUM PANEL DISCUSSION


Multi-Cultural Oral Health Summit“Collectively Meeting the Needs of a Diverse Population to Improve Oral Health”

July 20-24, 2012Boca Raton Resort & Club - Boca Raton, Florida

Dr. Ruth Bol, President Society of American Indian Dentists, Mr. Ian M. Cook, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, Colgate, Dr. Lilia Larin, President Hispanic Dental Association and Dr. Roy UIrons,

President National Dental Association.

Receiving the Award on behalf of HenrySchein is Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein

Receiving the award on behalf of Crest Oral-B is HDA Past President, Dr. Ivan Lugo, Professional and Scientific Relations, Regional Manager

for North America and Puerto Rico, Crest OralB.

The HDA, NDA, and SAID would like to acknowledge and express gratitude to our Sponsors, Exhibitors, Speakers and Supporters for their generous contributions and involvement in our

2012 Multi-Cultural Oral Health Summit. The viability of our organizations has evolved and is better because of your support. We are grateful to have established a partnership with you.

Your dedication to supporting our mission is truly a blessing and we thank you.

2012 Multi-Cultural Oral Health Summit Planning Committee left to right: Bob Johns, LaVette Henderson, Dr. Judy Greenlea-Taylor, Dr. Maritza Morell, William Woods, Dr. Hazel Harper, Imelda Lemon, Dr. Ruth Bol, Dr. Lilia Larin, Dr. Sarita Arteaga, Dr. Victor Rodriguez. Not pictured, Dr. Yolanda Bonta (HDA), Drs. David Smith and Winifred Booker (SAID), Dr. Roy Irons NDA President, Ms. Kitty Gaines NDA, and Tamiko Kinkade (HDA).

Receiving the Award on behalf of the DentaQuest Foundation is Ms. Fay Donohue, President and Chief Executive Officer of DentaQuest.


From left: Francisco Ramos-Gomez, Irubiel Barbosa, Stanley Bergman, Aidee Nieto, Lilia Larin, Maritza Morell, and Millie McClain.

Standing Left to Right: Myriam Zambrano, Melissa Uriegas, Irubiel Barbosa, Maritza Morell, and Lilia Larin. Seated left to right: Esperanza Rodriguez, Amarilis Jacobo and Adriana Segura.

HDA Board Members from left: Victor Rodriguez, Lilia Larin, Adriana Segura, Esperanza Rodriguez, Maritza Morell, Ms. Carla Newbern, President National Dental Hygienists Association and Amarilis Jacobo.

Students from the University of Michigan.

Members of the National Dental Association Board, the Society of American Indian Dentists Board and the Board of Trustees of the Hispanic Dental Association held a joint board meeting and training with members of the American Dental Society leadership during the 2012 Multi-Cultural Oral Health Sumit.


2012 Awards LuncheonSaturday, July 21, 2012 - Boca Raton, Florida

Special thanks to Colgate-Palmolive for their sponsorship of the luncheon.

2012 Recipients of the HDA Women’s Leadership Awards:

Ms. Paula Vogel - Award for Service and Education (far left)Paula Vogel Corporate communications and professional relations manager

for A-dec, Inc.

Dr. Lily Garcia - Award for Advocacy and Leadership (Center) Dr. Garcia is Director of the Division of Advanced Education and External Affairs in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry at the University of Texas Health

Science Center at San Antonio.

The 2012 Colgate Faculty Recognition Award Recipients were presented by Dr. Marsha Butler (left) and include:

Dr. Sarita Arteaga (Center) University of Connecticut, School of Dental

Medicine, Department of Restorative Dentistry.

Ms. Margo Y. Melchor, RDH, MEd (Center)University of Texas School of Dentistry in

Houston, Department of Periodontics and Dental Hygiene.

Dr. Francisco Ramos-Gomez (Center) University of California in Los Angeles,

Department of Pediatric Dentistry.

The 2012 Colgate Student Recognition Award Recipients include:

Stephanie Stoddart (Center) - University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine

Cynthia Corral (Center) - University of Texas School of Dentistry in Houston


Mistress of Ceremonies Karla Martinez Colgate Spokesperson.

Special Recognition was given to Dr. Cesar Sabates (left), Immediate Past President of the

Florida Dental Association. A special thank you to Nilsa H. Toledo, DMD, FAAPD, for her

assistance locally for the HDA Annual Meeting.

Additional Awards Presented at the Multi-Cultural Oral Health Summit:

2012 Colgate Student Scholarship Recipients:Carmen Garcia - University of Michigan •Annia LeGoff - Columbia University •Kelly Owen - Baylor College of Dentistry•Jose Castillo - Columbia University•

2012 Foundation Scholarship Award Recipients:Noruhan Abdel-Rahim - University of Florida •Yanisis Romero - University of Florida •Paola Salazar - University of Texas - Houston •Alexander Marti - University of Louisville •Angela Gullard - University of Alabama•

2012 Juan Villareal Scholarship Award Recipients: Alexandra Aponte - University of Texas - Houston •Paola Salazar - University of Texas - Houston •Sehajpreet Kaur - Baylor College•

•The winner of the Scrapbook Competition:3rd. University of IL Chicago2nd. Georgia Health Science1st. University of Kentucky

HDA Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient:Dr. C. Yolanda Bonta, HDA Executive Director.

2012 Colgate HDA “Ascend the Summit” Leadership Circle Award Recipient: Vidal Garza Balderas DDS, MPH - Clinical Assistant Professor Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, Director Border Mission Trips, Director of Primary Care Dental Program for the Homeless, San Antonio Christian Dental Clinic at Haven for Hope.

Scholarship Recipient, Jose Castillo (Center) Columbia University.

2012 President’s Award was presented to Dr. Francisco Ramos-Gomez, HDA Past

President, University of California in Los Angeles, Department of Pediatric Dentistry.

2012 Dentsply International Scientific Abstract Competition Winner

Kristina Christoph (center)Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

The luncheon concluded with the ceremonial passing of the gavel from 2012 HDA President

Lilia Larin, DDS (right) to 2013 President Maritza Morell, DMD, MS, MPH.


Dental Infection Prevention & Control Course in San Antonio, TX - January 7-10, 2013This course is an excellent foundation program for anyone who lectures on the topic or is responsible for the infection prevention and safety program in oral healthcare settings. Co-sponsored by the US Air Force and OSAP, this four-day program takes attendees through microbiology, infectious diseases, immunizations, surveillance, PPE, hand hygiene, disinfection and sterilization, instrument processing, management of occupational exposures, glove selection and performance, latex allergies, dental operatory and lab asepsis, mercury hygiene, dental unit waterline, dental product evaluation, patient safety, OSHA, HAZCOM, program management and more! Click HERE for course details and registration.

Infection Prevention & Safety Annual Symposium in San Diego, CA - June 13-15, 2013OSAP is looking forward to an even more robust educational program next year and encourages every OSAP member to include it on his or her calendar as a must-attend. The Symposium will be held in the Hyatt Mission Bay Resort and Marina in San Diego, a welcoming and comfortable venue for attendees and their families who want to stretch out the weekend on either end to enjoy some of the local attractions. Details will be posted on the OSAP website on September 1.

The People You’ll Meet (At the Multi-Cultural Oral Health Summit)

By - Student, University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine

Have you ever been told something that you just couldn’t understand? You know that awkward moment of silence when you are trying to figure out what is being said and the person saying it is just staring back at you, as if what they are saying is so clearly obvious. It may seem like the only appropriate response is to pretend that you do, smile and nod your head in their direction. Perhaps it is just an intangible thought, as if nothing can help you understand the meaning as you hear it, but only through experience do the words make sense. I am not talking about a “life lesson” either or one of those “I told you so” moments we have all come to know and love. No, nothing like that at all, but rather I am asking if you have had one of those “you have to see it to believe it” moments. Recently, I had the opportunity to have one of these myself. The words were simply put, and with perhaps a youthful exuberance of his own experiences or an excitement for the joy that lied ahead of me, but our Faculty Advisor, Dr. H. Eugene Brooks, would continually remind me about “the people you’ll meet” prior to my attendance to the Hispanic Dental Association Annual Session in Boca Raton, FL. It wasn’t until after our first student breakout session during the first ever Multicultural Oral Health Summit, did I finally understand what his words meant and why they were delivered with such excitement! This past summer the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine chartered the first ever chapter of the Hispanic Dental Association in the state of Colorado. Although there were many times when it seemed like this goal wouldn’t come to fruition prior to the Summit, it was with great honor and excitement that myself, along with our Chapter President, Diana Lopez and our Social Chair, Laura Ogas, were able to represent our school and the state of Colorado at this historic event. I have never been more proud to be part of something bigger than myself and to be honest I have never felt so welcomed or so valued than I did as member of the Hispanic Dental Association this past July. It seemed as though every person we met was more than willing to share their experiences and advice on everything from getting through school, practice management or just simple tips on self-improvement. Whether they were a Past-President of the National Dental Association, an up and coming student leader of the Hispanic Dental Association or an eager undergraduate pre-dental member of the Society of American Indian Dentists, everywhere, everyone was sincerely looking to make meaningful connections. My first experience with the Hispanic Dental Association was a truly special experience that I will always remember and cherish throughout my life. There were so many great opportunities to interact, network and work together throughout the Summit. My favorite event was the Hispanic Student Dental Association Faculty Advisor and Student Leadership seminar. There were so many great ideas and programs shared by each chapter. We will surely utilize these as our Chapter grows here in Colorado as we welcome more members into the Hispanic Dental Association Family. It was an especially moving experience talking about the development of the Hispanic Student Dental Association on a national level. We will continue to work closely with all members during this exciting time as we all grow together and unite to eliminate oral health disparities in the Hispanic community. “The People You’ll Meet” was once a mixture of words that didn’t have a meaning to me, but now it is an affirmation of why I joined the organization and what awaits on the horizon. The future looks bright for the Hispanic Dental Association! We hope to develop the friendships that we have formed with all the amazing people we met this past summer. We look forward to making new connections with the members of the Hispanic Dental Association Family we have yet to meet. We can’t wait to see you in San Francisco for the 2012 American Dental Association Annual Session!

Joeseph M. Potter, Laura Ogas, Diana Lopez

and HDA President Lilia Larin


Dr. Aidee Herman, Tufts School of Dentistry discussed a 2008 and 2009 missions to Haiti at the University of Port au Prince. She talked about the salt fluoridation program research project in that country. For 2013, she proposed joint mission to Haiti in collaboration with NDA, SNDA, HDA, and SHDA. Mr Jim Kitch, VP of ADI mobile medical van company and a member of the NDA Corporate Round Table, presented on emergency preparedness. Jim is consistently providing information to be disseminated among our members. We advocate that oral health should be a part of the emergency response teams globally. NDA On The Hill meetings to be held next spring, might be a venue to start for discussion about the role of the oral health provider. Dr. David Lamonthe presented on his recent mission to Costanzas, Domican Republic. He spoke passionately about this being his first mission and that he was committed to assisting in the development of an oral health program and clinic in this community.ever. He was able to meet with the Minister of Health to advocate for oral health in this community. Among the forward actions discussed included Planning a joint mission trip with the various organizations working together in Haiti 2013 and Africa 2014. Emergency preparedness information to each organization through CDC.

Jim Kitch, Linda Barconey, Walter Owens, Winifred Booker, Larry Dunham, Alan Gordon, Lynthia Stewart, Luz Marina Aguirre, Zuzana Mendez, Aidee Nieto-Herman, David Lamonthe, KiameshaMcClellan and Brian Swann.

2012 Global Oral Health Outreach Collaborative meeting was held at the

Multi Cultural Oral Health Summit with with Delegates from NDA, HDA, SAID

Oral Health America Sponsors Scrapbook Student Competition

Oral Health America sponsored the HDA Scrapbook competition at the Joint 2012 Multicultural Oral Health Summitt in Boca Raton, Florida. Attending the conference were Beth Truett, OHA President and CEO, and Melissa Hoebbel, OHA staff member. Some of the student participants are pictured above with OHA’s Melissa Hoebel and OHA Board member Dr. Victor Rodriguez. Beth Truett helped award the winners of the student competition at the Student Gala and Awards Ceremony. The scrapbook competition allowed local chapter student members to document the chapter’s activities over the course of a year, including fundraising events, officer meetings, and community service. Thank you to OHA for their generous sponsorship of the Scrapbook competition.

The 2013 HDA Annual Meeting Committee met in Boston to preview the Marriott Coply Plaza.

Mark your calendar for September 26-29, 2013 in Boston, MA!


Oral Health Care for People Living with

HIV/AIDS A Supplement to Public Health Reports (PHR), "Innovations in Oral Health Care for People Living with HIV/AIDS" is now available at: http://www.publichealthreports.org/issuecontents.cfm?Volume=127&Issue=8 "The 'Innovations in Oral Health Care for People Living with HIV/AIDS” is a special supplement to Public Health Reports that presents findings from the Special Projects of National Significance Innovations in Oral Health Care Initiative, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration's HIV/AIDS Bureau. The Oral Health Initiative encompassed 15 sites from around the country, about half in urban and half in rural communities. The research presented in this supplement shows that innovative program models can engage and retain people who are living with HIV/AIDS into oral health-care services. The articles in this special issue represent the most comprehensive additions to the body of knowledge about oral health care for people living with HIV/AIDS since the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study conducted nearly a decade ago. PHR has been published since 1878 and is the official journal of the U.S. Public Health Service.

A Student’s Perspective on the HDA, NDA, and SAID Multi-Cultural Oral Health Summit

by: Cynthia Corral, University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston

WOW! I have had the pleasure and special opportunity to attend three HDA national meetings throughout dental school. The HDA national meeting in Boca Raton, FL. was such an exciting and memorable experience! I had a chance to speak with the NDA president, Dr. Roy L. Irons. We discussed the importance of community outreach and staying active within the dental community. He is a firm believer in mentorship and he even provided me with his business card for future contact. Something that I truly value about every national meeting is getting to know other dental students from across the nation. I met so many dental students with different backgrounds and dynamic personalities. We had time to converse and share stories about our academic and clinical experiences, goals, and reasons for choosing dentistry as our life-long profession. I attended several relevant leadership workshops and CE courses, which include the following: Professional Development Session: Leadership/Chapter Strengthening Professional Development Session: New Dentist Panel and Dialogue Session (CDE 1.5 Professional Development Session: Surving the "PASS" Experience: How to Apply to Post-Graduate Programs The Balancing Act- Love and Business: How to Work Without Worrying About Your Love Life By far, my favorite part of the meeting and an unforgettable moment in my life was being selected this year as one of two national recipients of the Colgate/Palmolive HDA Student Recognition Award and Scholarship!! I'm the first dental student from UTSD to receive this award, and am extremely proud of this honor and achievement. This award is a constant reminder and representation of my conviction to contribute to the community through service, access to dental care, and promotion of oral health awareness. My involvement through HSDA and receipt of this award would not have been possible without the nomination and support from Ms. Margo Melchor and UTSD. Based on my overall experience, I truly believe it is important and extremely beneficial for a dental student to be involved in dental organizations and attend national dental meetings. There is a wealth of information available at these meetings, along with extensive networking opportunities and the privilege of being surrounded by notable leaders in the dental profession. These meetings largely contribute to our knowledge and success as future dental professionals. I left the national meeting feeling inspired and ready to promote and expand our HSDA and SNDA chapters at UTSD.

ASTDD Continues Commitment to the HDA

Kimberlie Yineman, President-elect for the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD), and Christine Wood, ASTDD Executive Director recently attended the 2012 Multicultural Oral Health Summit. During her term as ASTDD President, Margaret Snow attended the 2010 and 2009 HDA Annual Conference. All agree that attending the conference provides a valuable opportunity to understand the focus and priorities of the HDA and its members and to identify opportunities for HDA and ASTDD to work together to support their mutual missions. Kimberlie and Christine were particularly honored to be invited to join influential members of the dental community to discuss the findings of the national survey, “Hispanics Open Up About Oral health,” led by the HDA and sponsored by Crest and Oral B. According to Christine, “ASTDD is looking forward to seeing the summary of the discussions that took place, so we can utilize them to inform our efforts around achieving health equity and the elimination of health disparities.” ASTDD is committed to improving the nation’s oral health by: promoting strong state oral health programs; formulating oral health policy; increasing awareness of oral health; and preventing oral disease. In 2010 ASTDD presented the President’s Award to the HDA in recognition of their leadership in research, professional development and advancing oral health among Hispanic people.


HDAF, Together With Crest® and Oral-B,® Hosts Panel Of Experts To Outline Steps Forovercoming Oral Health Barriers Facing The U.S. Hispanic Community

On July 21, 2012, during the multicultural oral health summit in Boca Raton, FL, the HDAF, together with Crest® and Oral-B®, convened a roundtable of leading dental professionals, oral health researchers and policy makers to discuss why U.S. Hispanics lag behind other Americans in many aspects of oral health. Participants identified clear goals to break down the barriers that currently prevent Hispanics from maximizing oral health services in their local communities. The discussion explored eye-opening findings from a 2011 survey led by the HDAF and sponsored by Crest and Oral-B. Of note, the survey found that the majority of U.S. Hispanics believe more information about good oral health habits, access to affordable oral health care, and more Hispanic and Spanish-speaking dentists and dental hygienists in their communities would help them “a lot” in achieving better oral health.1 “The survey was a critical starting point for raising awareness of the gaps in oral health knowledge and access to care among U.S. Hispanics. Now is the time to face these challenges head on,” said Sarita Arteaga, DMD, MAGD and spokesperson for the HDAF. “The experts agreed that while dental professionals may serve on the front line of oral health care, it is up to the entire community to take a more active role to ensure Hispanics have meaningful short- and long-term access to good oral care and education.”

Roundtable OutcomesTo address Hispanics’ barriers and knowledge gaps, the roundtable participants identified the following priorities:

Close the communication gaps •between dental professionals and medical practitioners through continuing education programs and open dialogues at relevant meetings and professional conventions.

Panel stresses the importance of community involvement, increased communication and patient education in improving U.S. Hispanic oral health.

Educate patients on the consequences •of poor oral hygiene and the benefits of home care and prevention by creating culturally relevant learning opportunities through community gathering centers. Identify local ambassadors to amplify •the oral health message and serve as the coach in their community’s oral health routine.

“The failure to ensure access to care is inseparable from our failure to educate the minority communities on the importance of dental care,” stated Congressman Ted Deutch, who attended the roundtable. “This challenge couldn’t be clearer from the study that was done, which I want to commend [the roundtable participants] for helping to bring these issues to light.” The HDAF, Crest and Oral-B will be making a donation to the Caridad Center on behalf of roundtable participants for their work to improve the state of oral health among U.S. Hispanics. The Caridad Center is a free dental clinic serving Palm Beach County’s underprivileged population including local Hispanic families. The survey which prompted the roundtable, “Hispanics Open Up About Oral Health Care,” was conducted in 2011 among 1,000 Hispanic adults and 1,000 adults from the general population aged

18 and older who live in the continental U.S. Highlights from this research include:

When asked if cavities will go away •on their own if you brush regularly, almost one-third of Hispanics (30%) responded that they believe this statement is true or did not know the answer, when in fact the statement is false. About half or more Hispanics also incorrectly answered true/false statements or were uncertain about the importance of brushing versus flossing, whether bleeding is normal during brushing, and if mouthwash provides oral health benefits beyond just freshening breath.Nearly one in five (18%) Hispanics •have not visited the dentist at all in the past two years, compared to 12 percent of the general population.Approximately six in 10 Hispanics •feel that a higher representation of Spanish-speaking and Hispanic dentists/hygienists in their community would help them “a lot” in achieving and maintaining better oral health.

References:GfK Roper Public Affairs & Corporate 1. Communications, Hispanic Dental Association, Crest and Oral-B. “Hispanics Open Up About Oral Health Care.” 2011.


Hispanic Dental Association and Hispanic International Mission team up with Henry Schein Cares Foundation

on a Humanitarian mission trip to the Dominican Republic August 11-19, 2012.

The team included Dr. Aidee N. Herman Periodontics Dept Tufts University, Executive of MHDA/President of Hispanic International Mission; Dr. Zuzana Mendez-President of MHDA and Vice president of HIM, Dental Director of UCHC; Dr. Tharianny Vargas (Private Dentist); Prof. Ana Romero; Dr. Rogelio Cordero-Dean of UNPHU; Dr. Hector L.Rodriguez, UNPHU International Representive; Dr. Paul Trombly, Tufts Univ; Dr. Charlie Millstein, Tufts Univ Instructor; Dr. S Lightfoot, Tufts Univ Instructor; Dr. E. Brown, Harvard University; Dr. Fidelito Gabriel, Private Practice; 6 Doctors from UNPHU; Dr. Berge, 24 Students from Tufts Univ; 3 USA college students; 1Phamacist; and 15 Students from UNPHU. The team visited the area of the Santo Domingo area of the Dominican Republic - Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Urena (UNPHU). Working with Los Alcarrizos Community. Dr. Tharianny Vargas and Professor Ana Romero were in charge of organizing the people from Los Alcarrizos and surrounding area. La Esperanza Foundation part of the UNPHU was organized by Dr. Rogelio Cordero and Dr. Nayelis Valdez, Dr. Hector Luis Rodriguez. Over 490 patients were treated/screened. The most common conditions seen were Caries-Periodontal Disease. Interventions performed included: Oral Hygiene Instruction and Nutritional Education; Prophylaxis; Varnish Fluoride; Filling; Pulpotherapy; Endo; Flipper; complete denture and partial denture repairs and extractions.


HDA 2012 Scholarship Recipients’ Essay Submissionsby: Sehajpreet Kaur - Baylor CollegeVillareal scholarship Award Recipient Hispanics are the fastest growing minority group in the United States today. Their cultural beliefs and practices concerning health and dental care are different from those in the United States. Studies have found that among minorities, Hispanics are at a greater risk for unmet dental needs. Hispanics are also least likely to have dental insurance despite a higher need for dental health care. I believe that all this could be changed by offering Hispanic communities free dental exams and through oral hygiene instructions. Also, telling them about the community services and other free or low-cost dental services, like health fairs, etc., will also benefit them. By thoroughly guiding and explaining the benefits of dental insurance to Hispanics in our community, I feel that the number of their regular dental visits will definitely increase. One of my goals is to stay involved with the Hispanic Dental Association. I want to spread awareness in the Hispanic community and educate them about the importance of dental care. The awareness could be spread every day at a private office or a public hospital by just taking a few seconds to explain why dental care is so important. I want to emphasize the importance of why regular visits are so important especially to a community that is at a greater need for dental treatments. Also, by being a part of the Hispanic Dental Association, I can keep up with the latest updates and news which I can share with my patients. Health fairs are also a very cost-effective strategy to provide community outreach while also helping in increasing awareness. Health Fairs also provide dental health information to a variety of populations and communities. They can also increase organization’s visibility within a community, while examining oral health behaviors and encouraging positive lifestyle changes. I think health fairs would be a great opportunity to gather volunteers, like me, to help and make positive changes in the Hispanic community. In the future, I want to join mission groups that help the Hispanic community within and outside of the US. Another thing that I have noticed is that a lot of people have trouble communicating with Non-English

speaking Hispanics especially when it comes to explaining dental terms. I want to create a group of dental professionals that would want to meet once or twice a week to learn and teach how to effectively communicate with Non-English speaking Hispanics in Spanish. It will also be a great opportunity to learn Spanish for people that do not speak any at all. In conclusion, I believe that the best way to help is by educating our community about oral hygiene to prevent cavities and periodontal disease. I think the most important population to educate, when it comes to oral hygiene are the parents. Studies reveal large populations of Hispanic children aged 2-11 years have had tooth caries. Dental offices and public hospitals are really good places to educate the community. They are also good in informing patients about free community services that are being provided in locations nearby.

by: Yanisis B. Romero Yanisis Romero - University of Florida - HDAF Scholarship Award Recipient The first time I assisted on a dental community service event, I was amazed by the massive amount of Hispanic patients that were waiting to be helped. From children to adults, more than half of them had never used dental floss. I was stunned by the fact that ninety-five percent of the children did not remember the last time they brushed their teeth. As a result, I created a presentation in Spanish for parents and children where I talked about the importance of brushing their teeth, the foods that are good for the teeth and those that are bad for the teeth, and the consequences of poor dental care. Dr. Daniel Del Castillo, D.M.D., was able to provide me with a supply of small toothbrushes and dental paste to distribute. Over time, I noticed improvement on patient’s dental care habits and I was very satisfied to see good results. Through my volunteer experiences, I decided I would like a career in pediatric dentistry. Not only because I love the interaction and communication with children, but because I have realized there are thousands of Hispanic children out there, through no fault of their own, are just not getting the start they deserve in life with proper dental care. My dream is to one day reach young patients and provide them with the best possible treatment and

care. After obtaining my D.M.D. degree from the University of Florida, I would like to continue to be an active member of the Hispanic Dental Association and an active community service member for the Hispanic community. I believe that the main issue facing dentistry today is addressing patients, especially parents, about preventative dental care for their children. While volunteering alongside Dr. Daniel DelCastillo, D.M.D, I noticed an overwhelming number of young patients with dental problems. In my opinion, the Hispanic community severely underestimates the importance of oral health, especially when it comes to children. I believe education and prevention are both very important aspects of dental health and working together to inform the community would be a great start into solving this issue. I hope that in the future, I will be able to reach children before they become patients. In my opinion, it is crucial to instill education, prevention, and good dental habits on children and to encourage parents to guide their children to begin good dental habits at an early age. I would like to contribute, as part of the Hispanic Dental Association, in working together and finding solutions for the future. My goal is to develop a humanitarian organization for the Hispanic community which will consist of gathering a group of colleagues and volunteers to provide dental service free of charge to those who are economically disadvantage within the Hispanic community. The many volunteer services in which I have participated have made me realize that there is a significant need for dental care in several areas of the state of Florida. I believe public service is very important to every community, especially the Hispanic community, and it is important to have dental health professionals who are willing to donate their time to improve the dental health of the Hispanic community. Dentistry is an honorable profession that I am proud to pursue, and in the future, I hope to fulfill my dream of contributing to the Hispanic community’s oral health. My desire and commitment to the study of dentistry increases the more I get exposed to it, and I am prepared for the challenges of a dental program. I have complete confidence in my ability to pursue a career in dentistry and devote my life to it.


Why are you a member of the HDA?

“the reason I maintain my membership in HDA is to support the mission of improving the oral health of our communities while at the same time making the organization become relevant to the public at large and to our dental community in particular”. I have been a member of a Hispanic dental organization since 1972 as a student member of the then, Latin American Dental Association in Los Angeles. As a member of the board for the Los Angeles chapter of HDA, I feel that I can still contribute in the work that lies ahead.” – Dr. Santos Cortez, Jr.

Dr. Santos Cortez Jr. was born in Tulare, California and raised in Southern California. He attended Cerritos College, Cal State University Long Beach and received his Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree at the University of Southern California (USC) in 1976. He obtained his specialty certification in Pediatric Dentistry and earned certification in Hospital Dentistry and Cleft lip/Cleft Palate Rehabilitation at USC in 1978. Dr. Cortez has been a Clinical Assistant Professor at USC in the department of Advanced Pediatric Dentistry since 1979. He has been on staff at Miller Children’s Hospital since 1982 and has been in private practice

since 1978. Dr. Cortez has served as a member and officer for a number of professional and community organizations. Currently, he is a clinical instructor at USC in the department of Advanced Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Cortez is an Advisor at the Children’s Dental Health Clinic in Long Beach and also is a consultant for the southeast Head-Start program. He is past chairman of the Miller Children’s Hospital Advisory Board as well as past-president of the California Society of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Cortez has been on the Cleft Palate Board at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center since 1982. He has completed a term as the dental representative to the Healthy Families Program Advisory Panel and is a member of the First 5 California Scientific Advisory Committee. Dr. Cortez serves on the Long Beach Memorial Medical Center Board of Directors and the Memorial Health Services Board of Directors. He served as chair of the Government Affairs Council for the California Dental Association from 2006-2009, as well as the inaugural chairman of the Long Beach Children’s Oral Health Task Force. He is currently the Vice-President of the Hispanic Dental Association, Los Angeles Chapter and is the District 6 Trustee of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. He is the current Chairman of the Leadership Development Committee of the California Society of Pediatric Dentistry where he has been a member since 1978. Dr. Cortez was born of migrant farm workers in the San Joaquin Valley in California and is the eldest of eight children. He and his wife have raised three children and now have five grandchildren. He continues as President and CEO of Pediatric Dental Specialists in Long Beach, California, a pediatric and orthodontic practice with three doctors and twenty staff members.

Every Child Deserves a Healthy Smile

Dental decay is the most common chronic childhood disease with more than 16 million kids suffering from untreated tooth decay in the U.S. The mouth is the gateway to a person’s overall health, and an unhealthy mouth can be linked to diabetes and even heart disease. In the U.S., oral disease causes kids to miss 51 million school hours and their parents to lose 25 million work hours annually. Additionally, oral disease disproportionately affects children from low-income families and these children have almost twice the number of decayed teeth that have not been treated by a dentist as compared to others in the general population. Fortunately, you can take action to start the process of preventing dental pain and disease. The Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives—a group of 34 organizations recognized as experts in the field of oral health—was created to help you take action and teach your children the importance of good oral health. By using the information on this website, you can give your children a head start on having healthy mouths for the rest of their lives.

HDA Cultural Awareness Program

Dr. Sarita Arteaga, HDA Past President, presented the HDA Cultural Awareness course, “Hispanic Cultural Awareness

for Oral Health Professionals” at the National Oral Health Conference.

If you or someone you know is interested in this program and how it can be offered

to organizations, colleagues, staff, etc., please contact the

National HDA office at 800-852-7921.

Dr. Tyrone Rodriguez presented a “Capitol Campaign” donation to the HDA. The check was presented to the HDA Board of Trustees

Meeting during the Multi-Cultural Oral Health Summit annual meeting held in July

in Boca Raton, Florida. Thank you Dr. Rodriguez!


Gerardo Aguero, DDS, Watertown, MAGeorgina Andrist, RDH, Gresham, ORJose Arciniegas, CAGS, DDS, MPA, Auburndale, MANoel Aymat, DMD, JD, San Juan, PRAngela B. Christopher, BA, MBA, Bloomingdale, ILAmanda Bartell, AAS, Moses Lake, WAStanley Anthony Boucree, DDS, MS, Washington, DCWilliam Calnon, BS, DDS, Rochester, NYAna Casal, DDS, San Francisco, CAEva Chiang, DDS, Boca Raton, FLClevenger, DDS, Seattle, WAVivian Patricia Coto, DDS, Watertown, MAYltze Cubas- Moody, DDS, San Francisco, CAMichelle Denny, MBA, Houston, TXAlexander Duran, DDS, Rancho Cucamonga, CAMolly Eastman, BASDH, The Woodlands, TXRodrigo Fuentealba, DDS, Lexington, KYMargarita Galvez, DMD, Atlanta, GAMaria C Garanzuay, DDS, San Antonio, TXCarolina Garcia, MS, Iowa, IAFabiola Garcia De Rocha, DDS, Houston, TX

Brice Gilliam, BS, Nashville, TNHugo Gonzalez, DDS, Houston, TXGeorge Guerra, DDS, Miami Lakes, FLEric Harris, DDS, Mesa, AZGraciela Hernandez, DDS, Houston , TXMiguel Hernandez, DDS, Atlanta , GAMahzarine Irani Rohani, DDS, Las Vegas, NVJose Ladino, DDS, Brooklyn, NYFiladelfo Larios, BS, Mesa, AZThomas Madara, DMD, FAGD, Bethlehem, PAJames Martineau, BS, Pewee Valley, KYElaine Martinez, DMD, Fleming Island, FLMark McGill, DDS, Moses Lake, WAKatherineMeyer, DDS, Omaha, NEVega Miguel, DDS, Meriden, CTRosa Morales, BASDH, Friendswood, TXRita Morfin, AA, Moses Lake, WASara Nazco, DDS, Lakewood, OHMarinela Martinez Nemetz, DDS, Jacksonville, FLAlexander Nouri, DDS, Chandler, AZJennifer Leigh Ortega, DMD, Orlando, FL

Ricardo Peralta, DDS, National City, CAEstefania Pereira, RDh, Haverhill, MASandra Perez, RDH, boca raton, FLMaria Pina, BDS, Roslindale, MADaymi Reyes, ATA, Nashville, TNReynaldo Rivera, DDS, Holland, MIVictoria Rodriguez, AA, Moses Lake, WARodrigo Romano, DDS, MS, South Miami, FLJohn Rome, DMD, Moses Lake, WAEdward M Ruiz, DDS, Homewood, ILAida Solivan-Ortiz, BS, DMD, San Antonio, TXNilsa Toledo, DMD, West Palm Beach, FLOlga Torres, RDH, Clewiston, FLJesus Valdez, DMD, Eagle Pass, TXLatasha Vick, MHS, Nashville, TNKyla Whitaker, BA, Moses Lake, WADaniel Wilson, DDS, Aurora, COSamira A Yunez, DDS, Elmhurst, ILAdriana Zaharie, DDS, DMD, Katy, TXAna Zea, DDS, Boston, MA

Welcome to these new HDA Student Members

Welcome to these new HDA Professional Members

Nourhan Abdel-rahim, Valrico, FLArnedith Adarmes, Hialeah Gardens, FLMonique Arellano, Deer Park, TXAshley Baptiste, Gainesville, FLChristine Sirna Bode, Birmingham, ALCarolina Botero , New York , NYCristian Brutten, New Britain, CTNathan Bushman, Walla Walla, WAMonica Caplash, Mountain Brook, ALIsabel Castillo, Ann Arbor, MIMichelle Castro , New York , NYDenise Ceron, Lawrenceville, GAClinio Cerrud, Houston, TXShenjuti Chowdhury, Sunnyside, NYKristina Christoph, Boston, MARYAN CORDERO, MESA, AZVeronica Cordon, Spring, TXTrina Courtright, Bethel, MNAndrea Davies, Houston, TXDiana de Quesada, Miami, FLNatasha Diaz, Sugar Hill, GABrendan Dolan, Farmington, CTJames Fischer, Dallas, TXChristian Ford, Boston, MAMaria Garcia, Edwardsville, IL

Catherine Garza, San Antonio, TXDanielle Wiggins Gilbert, Birmingham, ALDaniella Godoy, weston, FLAlejandra Gonzalez, miami, FLColleen Greene, Jamaica Plain, MAAngela Gullard, Birmingham, ALDeidra Harrison, Hendersonville, TNSheree Nicole Hasson, Deer Park, TXRobert B Henson, Carrington, NDcathy hernandez, nashville, TNLaura R. Hofto, Birmingham, ALMaximillion Jensen, San Francisco, CABrittany K. Johansen, Coralville, IAJacqueline A Juhl, Anacortes, WAPamela Jung, Pittsburgh, PADavid Kim , Duluth , GAMarisol M King, Aurora, COCourtney Lickteig, Cedar Rapids, IALorraine Lobos, Lilburn , GABrendan Lopez, Bellevue, WAPatricia Lopez, Rio Grande City, TXCynthia Maldonado, Georgetown, TXSidni Manne , Gainesville , FLShirley Marquez, Nashville, TN

Henry, Mesa, AZKenia Martinez , Fort Lee, NJKesha McRae, Nashville, TNKendall Miller, Nashville, TNAndrea Mohs, Katy, TXTiffany Morales, Indianapolis , INNatalia Munoz, Caguas, PRLalita Nekkanti, Boston, MABichvan Nguyen, Houston, TXYu Ong, Mesa, AZNaila Ortega, Nashville, TNSally Lissette Ortega, Mesa, AZLigia Padilla, San Francisco, CALauren Crane Paul, Birmingham, ALWilliam Scott Pennington, Birmingham, ALAldo Peralta, Chula Vista, CADavid Perez, Jackson, MSUlysses C. Pickard, Augusta, GARobert Pierre, Gainesville, FLJanie Pineda, Houston , TXLizzette Porcayo, Chicago , ILMelissa Evett Precise, Birmingham, ALDiana Reyes, Richmond, TXChiara Rivas-Morello, Boston, MA

Jade Rivera, Spring Hill, FLMaria Rivera, Mesa, AZYanisis Romero, Sunny Isles Beach, FLGeraldine Ruiz, Orange, CAPaola Salazar, Katy, TXAlyssa Santoro, Chicago, ILKira Lilian Santos, Pembroke Pines, FLMisty Seale, Martinez, GABrad D. Seddighzadeh, San Antonio, TXAndres Setaputri, ann arbor , MIMichael Shapiro , Cedarhurst , NYStephen Estes Smith, Homewood, ALJayashree Srinivasan, Birmingham, ALKatherine Taylor, Bothell, WAShelly Taylor, Gainesville, FLFloyd Trammell, Memphis, TNVictor Trevino, Keller, TXJacqueline Urcuyo, New York, NYSarah Usher, Mesa, AZLeiza Walia, Glendale, CAKara Kathleen Ward, Birmingham, AZCharles Wei, Houston, TXDaniela Whitman, Doral, FL


Every child deserves a healthy start in life, but when it comes to oral health, many children face significant challenges. The oral health of children is a major concern today in the United States. Dental disease in the primary dentition is currently the most common chronic disease in childhood.

Over 40% - 50% of children will be affected by tooth decay before age 5.•Oral health issues affect children in poverty and minorities far more than other •groups.According to the May 2000 Surgeon General’s report, Oral Health in America, more •than 51 million school hours are lost each year to dental-related conditions and poor children suffer 10 times more restricted-activity days than children from higher-income families.While 9 million children in this nation do not have medical insurance, more than •twice that number, 23 million, do not have dental insurance.

Children with untreated dental decay can have difficulty sleeping, eating, and concentrating in school. Such discomfort may also impact their emotional well-being. Give Kids a Smile (GKAS) is an annual event created by the American Dental Association, held each year in conjunction with the national Children’s Dental Health Month. The objectives of GKAS are to enhance the oral health of large number of needy children and to highlight for policy makers the ongoing challenges that low-income families face in finding dental care. GKAS is administered locally through the oversight of constituent dental societies of the ADA.

The North Texas Give Kids a Smile Program For the last six years the North Texas Dental Society (NTDS) has administered and overseen the GKAS program in Collin and Denton counties. Since the implementation of the program a collaborative partnership was developed between the NTDS and the Dental Hygiene program from the Collin County Community College (DHCC) to screen and treat children at the Dental Hygiene Clinic by volunteer dentists. In 2009, a grant from the ADA foundation was awarded to the program with the objectives to expand the program. The following additional partners joined the program; The North Texas Hispanic Dental Association (NTHDA), the Hispanic Student Dental Association of –Baylor College of Dentistry (HSDA), and the dental hygiene program from the Texas Women University (TWU). The goals of this program are to: 1) Screen underserved children 5-12 years of age in North Texas communities. 2) Identify and recruit private dental practitioners to volunteer services to the program in order to provide free dental treatment for children in need and finding these kids a permanent ‘Dental Home’, and 3) Foster mentorship and leadership infrastructure between the professional dental associations, dental students and dental hygiene students.

Program Methodology School nurses from 11 school districts were trained to identify underserved children. The selection criteria were: (1) Between 5-12 years of age; (2) Enrolled in a North Texas school district (3) Demonstrated inability to receive regular dental care due to financial limitations (such as parental unemployment; no dental insurance and/or parental income below poverty line; or qualification for government aid, such as Medicaid, Head Start, and school lunch programs). (4) Obvious dental problems which were not being addressed. Children who met the criteria were assigned to one of the screening locations (DHCC and TWU). Parental consent was obtained. Every child received oral health education training, a radiographic exam with bitewings radiographs, and a clinical evaluation that identified the children in the following groups: (A) Need to be seen as

Collaborative Partnership Approach to Improve Access to Dental Care for Underserved Children in North Texas

By: Carlos Nurko DDS, MS North Texas GKAS Cochair 2010-2012


soon as possible due to pain or infection, (B) More than 3 quadrants require treatment, (C) Two or less quadrants require treatment (D) No caries, and (E) Other. Children were assigned to receive free dental treatment provided by a private general or pediatric dentist who (1) agreed in advance to treat the program participant patients and (2) indicated what level of care the dentist is capable of providing. Spanish speaking parents were identified and a translator was assigned to coordinate the appointments.

Data from the 2010, 2011 and 2012 North Texas Give Kids a Smile The table shows the number of children that were scheduled and the number children that showed to the screenings each year. Over 70 percent of the children had caries in the two first years, in 2012 the prevalence was 69%. All the children that attended the program received information and education related to oral health, bitewing radiographs, an oral exam, and fluoride treatment. Each year over 100 volunteers participated in the program. Children caries free were placed in a six-month recall to be seen at the Dental Hygiene student clinics. From the children screened who were in need of treatment, more than two-thirds of the children referred were treated by a volunteer private practitioner member from the NTDS. As a pilot project, six children in need of orthodontic treatment are currently undergoing treatment with two NTDS members. 2010 2011 2012 Scheduled for screenings 156 227 106 Showed to screenings 101 164 88 Prevalence of Caries 74% 72% 69%

Conclusions and Recommendations The partnership between professional dental associations, dentists, dental students, dental hygiene students and faculty members demonstrated that the North Texas Give Kids a Smile Program can be expanded into more local communities to join other oral health initiatives designed to improve the oral health of underserved children. We are proud of what we have accomplished by helping children to get the dental care they so desperately need and raise awareness that our children deserve a better health care system that addresses their dental health. We want to make good oral health a priority for all children in North Texas. We seek to educate policymakers and parents that good oral health is integral to overall health and that preventive measures like fluoridation and sealants result in long-term savings. Unfortunately, we will not be able to wipe out untreated dental disease until we focus on prevention at an early age. G.V Black, the father of restorative dentistry taught “extension for prevention” as a means to treat decay. Today, our motto is “prevention for extension” as an effort to spread awareness of the need to avoid unnecessary dental decay in children. In order to do this, our organization seeks to build public and private partnerships at the state and local level to help improve access to oral health. For more information: http://www.tda.org.

Collaborative Partnership ...Continued from page 22 HDA Notices

and Classified Advertisements

IOWA The University of Iowa’s College of Dentistry is searching for full-time clinical or tenure-track faculty in Family Dentistry. Position available October 1, 2012; screening begins immediately. Must have: DDS/DMD from ADA-accredited dental school; at least five years of general dental practice experience; and at least five years of clinical teaching experience w/pre-doctoral students in ADA-accredited dental school. Desirable: Prosthodontics or AEGD or GPR certificate from ADA-accredited program; and other relevant teaching/clinical dental practice experience. Rank/track/salary commensurate with qualifications/experience. To learn more and/or apply, go to Jobs@UIowa at http://jobs.uiowa.edu/content/faculty/, reference Req #61083. AA/EEO employer; women/minorities encouraged to apply.

Advertise in the HDA News & Reports

The HDA News & Reports is a quarterly newsletter provided to our members and others who share our interest in improving the oral health of the Hispanic community. The deadline for classified and display advertisements in the Summer Newsletter is August 1st.

For information about display or classified advertising, contact the HDA at [email protected].


ADA Institute for Diversity in Leadership

The American Dental Association’s Institute for Diversity in Leadership, sponsored in part through contributions from Procter & Gamble Professional Oral Health and Henry Schein Dental has recently named class members for 2012-2013.

Class members are Drs.:Shahnaz Ahmed, Ballwin, MO•Cheska Avery-Stafford, Milwaukee, •WIPaul Ayson, Visalia, CA•Pia Chatterjee-Kirk, Madison, MS•Beverly Crawford, Holland, PA•Anthony Daniel, San Francisco, CA•Christina Gonzales, San Antonio, TX•Maria Maranga, Northport, NY•Maritza Morell, Andover, MA•Daniel Nam, Oakland, CA•Vishruti Patel, Plainfield, IL•Prashant Verma, Columbia, MD•

The Institute, now in its 10th year, is committed to provide a diverse group of dentists who are members of racial, ethnic and/or gender groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in leadership, an educational and leadership experience. Students work with educators from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and complete a personal leadership project. This enables them to build a lifetime of relationships and set new leadership paths within the dental profession and their community. In a note received from Kathleen O’Loughlin, Executive Director of the American Dental Association, acknowledging our sponsorship, Dr. O’Loughlin states, “I hope you have observed with pride, as we have, the development of many exemplary leaders from this program who continue to make significant contributions to the dental profession and to the improvement of the oral health of the public. We deeply appreciate Procter & Gamble’s investment in the Institute for Diversity in Leadership”.

HDA Members in the News

The American College of Prosthodontists is pleased to announce that its president, Lily T. Garcia, DDS, MS, FACP, is the recipient of the 2012 Hispanic Dental Association Women’s Leadership Award. The HDA’s dedication toward the elimination of oral health disparities begins with service

and education and continues through advocacy and leadership. “To receive recognition from my colleagues, who represent my cultural heritage and have experienced similar challenges to achieve excellence in our profession, is so special to me,” said Dr. Garcia. “As advocates for strong dental education and best practices in oral health, we strive to improve patient outcomes.” The 2012 HDA Awards Luncheon was held in Boca Raton, Florida. Presented by the HDA Board of Trustees, the Women’s Leadership Award recognizes and honors women who have helped to advance the HDA mission, displayed exceptional character and distinguished themselves as outstanding role models in the field of dentistry through service, education, advocacy and leadership. Dr. Garcia is the first female Hispanic president of the American College of Prosthodontists. She began her one-year term as ACP President on Nov. 2, 2011. This has been a year of national advocacy and collaboration among the dental specialty organizations, and Dr. Garcia has led a comprehensive strategic plan for the ACP’s future. She also led the ACP’s sponsorship of the Ad Council’s first oral health campaign in its 70-year history, among other promotional efforts to raise awareness for the specialty of prosthodontics. “As a prosthodontist, I know that oral health is part of our overall well-being. To be recognized by the Hispanic Dental Association is truly an honor,” said Dr. Garcia. Dr. Garcia is also Professor and Division Head of the Advanced Education and External Affairs in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio. For ADEA, Dr. Garcia has led a task force to create guidelines for interactions between Academia and Industry which serves as a reference for all dental education entities on a national level, as well as for other professional organizations. As an accomplished author and editor of numerous articles, abstracts and dental textbooks, Dr. Garcia is quoted in WebMD and a baby boomer insert in USA Today. She served as a reviewer and editorial board member for several scientific journals, and co-authored the texts Removable Partial Dentures-A Clinician’s Guide and Osseointegration and Occlusal Rehabilitation. Dr. Garcia is a Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics and Fellow of the ACP, and maintains a practice limited to prosthodontics. The ACP is the only prosthodontic specialty organization whose membership is based solely on education credentials. ACP members must be in or have completed an ADA-accredited advanced education program in prosthodontics. The American College of Prosthodontists is the professional association of dentists with advanced specialty training who are the experts in the restoration and replacement of teeth to create optimal oral health, both in function and appearance including dental implants, dentures, veneers, crowns and teeth whitening. To learn more about prosthodontists and prosthodontic procedures or to find a prosthodontist near you visit GoToAPro.org. The ACP is a proud sponsor of the Ad Council’s first oral health campaign in its 70-year history, the Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives. The ACP is committed to educating the public about preventative, proactive simple habits honed early in life. For more information, please visit: healthymouthshealthylives.org.

American College of Prosthodontists President Receives 2012 Hispanic

Dental AssociationWomen’s Leadership Award


Dr. Jacobo honored in Washington, DC

Why A National List Of Dominicans - (Prologue of The Dominican List) Silvio Torres-Saillant, PhD, Syracuse University

ADHA Annual Meeting

HDA Immediate Past President, Margo Y.Melchor, RDH, MEd was invited to serve as a panelist at the American Dental Hygienists’ Association 89th Annual Session in Phoenix, Arizona on June 19, 2012. The session was entitled: What’s Diversity Got To Do With It? Reflections on Being a Diverse Member of the Profession. Panelists discussed challenges they may have faced as a result of ethnicity/orientation and/or how to reach more diverse populations. Ms. Melchor stated, “ I did not face any challenges as a result of my ethnicity. Perhaps it is because most people don’t correlate my last name as a Hispanic last name, even though it does originate from Spain. My purpose as a clinician and educator is to promote the profession of dental hygiene and higher education to the Hispanic population.”

Pictured at right are: Ann Battrell, ADHA Executive Director,

Susan Savage, RDH, BSDH, 2012-2013 ADHA President; Margo Y. Melchor, RDH,

MEd; and Pam Quinones, RDH, BS ADHA Immediate Past President.

HDA Members in the News

The Dominican List showcases an impressive array of individuals with extraordinary accomplishments and talents who have made enormous contributions in cities throughout the United States in areas ranging from education, law, health, politics, and sports, to science, technology, and the arts. These individuals represent the tip of the iceberg. Many more have achieved outstanding feats in sites less reachable by the reporter’s camera or the journalist’s beat. They have reenergized neighborhoods which they found languishing, taught the discipline of dance or athletics to youngsters after school, or used their ingenuity to create jobs when the country’s economy did not provide them one–in street vending, sidewalk eateries or artisanship, among others. The Dominican List, for the sake of expediency, begins with those Dominicans whose stories are more accessible because their occupations have brought them into visibility. Still, one might ask what motive the Dominican American National Roundtable and the National Dominican American Council (NDAC) might have for compiling and publicizing such a distinguished gathering of remarkable people of Dominican ancestry. Among the many plausible reasons that come to mind, one strikes me as the most likely, perhaps even the one subsuming all others. People of Dominican descent in this country must still continue to engage in ethnic advocacy.

Dr. Tyrone Rodriguez HDA Vice-President joins Grant County Dental Society Salmon Fishing Excursion

Dr. Tyrone Rodriguez HDA Vice-President joins Grant County Dental Society Salmon Fishing Excursion. The trip involved the Grant County dental society to go Silver Salmon, also known as "Coho Salmon" named by the local Tlingit people, This was done by jet boats that would take us up rivers to wade in the cold and brisk currents. The banks of the rivers were surrounded by wildlife bald eagles, brown and black bear and moose. This professional outing allowed the practitioners to share and create some great opportunities for networking and professional development.

Dr. Tyrone Rodriguez shows off his catch.


HDA Professional Chapter News

Thanks to the collaboration of Dr. Aidee Herman and Dr. Zuzana Mendez beside the help of other doctors and volunteers this new association was established on July 28, 2012 at the Puerto Rican Festival in Boston at the Franklin Park. MHDA saw 40 kids and MAHMA saw 100 patients!.

Massachusetts Hispanic Dental Association is proud to announce the opening of MAHMA (Massachusetts Hispanic Medical Association).

Massachusetts Hispanic Dental Association

Tufts University Dental School for the Second Symposium in Dental Career by Massachusetts Hispanic Dental Association



GSA HDA joins NDA and SAADS in Celebrating Diversity in the Dental Profession

On Saturday evening May 5, 2012, the Greater San Antonio Hispanic Dental Association participated in the inaugural Diversity in Dentistry Celebration and Casino Reception held at the Marriott Rivercenter Hotel in San Antonio Texas. It was a great pleasure to see so many faces from the dental profession gathered in one room to celebrate the diversity of dentistry in San Antonio. The event promoted diversity and inclusion by inviting members and supporters of the Greater San Antonio Hispanic Dental Association (GSA HDA), the San Antonio District Dental Society (SADDS), and the chapter in-planning of the National Dental Association (NDA). This event was part of the Texas Dental Association Annual Session and included dentists, dental hygienists, and graduating dental and hygiene students from different ethnic backgrounds. At this event scholarships were presented by GSAHDA to select high school students, dental students and dental hygiene students to award them for their dedication and service to the dental community. Also at this event, GSA HDA held the official ceremony to inaugurate the 2012-2013 officers: Dr. Norma Reyes, President, Dr. Christina Meiners, President-elect, Ms. Paola Romero, Treasurer, Dr. Hilda Yanez, Secretary, Dr. Laura Bonilla, Scientific Chair. The festivities culminated in a casino reception and raffle of various prizes. The presidents of the three organizations focused on the underlining mission statement. We are diverse entities with a variety of missions and goals. For GSA HDA, according to Dr. Norma Reyes, it is to promote service, education, advocacy and leadership to eliminate disparities in the Hispanic community. For NDA it is to advocate the rights of the minority dentists and promote dentistry as a viable profession to these groups, said Dr. Loren Alves. Dr. John Schmitz, SADDS president stated that for SADDS it is to promote the art and science of dentistry, to educate the public and to support the dental profession. As one can see the choice of words varies, but in the end, we melt all our flavors together and celebrate our similarities: our devotion to our beloved profession and our patients. The overall goal of the diversity celebration was to further open opportunities for GSAHDA, SAADS and NDA to complement each other. The three distinct organizations plan to separately but in a unified manner, reach their individual goals and bring the dental profession, oral health and higher learning to the civic forefront of San Antonio, making our community the primary benefactor. After many requests to repeat the event next year, plans are underway for a repeat of this frun and meaningful event. It is hoped the gathering, which promotes inclusion and interaction, may increase participation in organized dentistry, a goal for all three organizations.


GSAHDA “Back to School” Event

GSAHDA officers Dr. Norma Reyes, Dr. Christina Gonzalez, Dr. Christina Meiners and Paola Romero as well as a group of UTSA’s pre dent students attended the “Back to School Event” hosted by Senator Carlos Uresti. Senator Uresti provides the kids with with a backpack full of supplies to provide them good start. As for GSHADA we were given the wonderful opportunity to provide students oral hygiene items. Over 3,000 people were present in this event and most of them given OHI as well as an oral care package. Our pre-dent s dressed up as toothbrush, toothpaste, and a healthy tooth and promoted good oral health amongst the little ones.

Article Submitted by: Paola Romero, Director of Dental Operations, Campos Family Dental


Med Prep Summer Program And Dentistry

On Thursday August 9 and 16, 2012, GSAHDA was given the opportunity to reach high school students from around San Antonio during the Med Prep Summer Program. These students are identified as some of the brightest from school districts in San Antonio with the least resources. Med Prep exposes high school students to overviews of the medical field and this year thanks to the visions valued health professionals, Dentistry was added to the curriculum. The UTHSCSA Dental School and GSAHDA sponsored the students with a didactic and a clinical session and members participated in discussions and clinical evaluation. 60 ninth through twelfth grade students were given the opportunity to listen to information on dentistry as a profession and dental education. They were also given a hands-on session with handpieces and simulated ”Learn a Prep’s” in an actual clinical setting. It is great to know that we are a piece of a larger planned effort to support and encourage these children to contemplate a health profession.

Pictured above: Dr. Frank Ramos, Dr.Norma Reyes, Dr. vidal Balderas, guests of the UTHSCSA Dental School 15th annual Welcome to the Profession Ceremony.

At Right: Dr. Norma Reyes addressing the incoming dental class of 2016

Welcome to the Profession Ceremony with UTHSCSA Dental School and GSAHDA

On Sunday July 8, 2012, the Greater San Antonio Hispanic Dental Association (GSAHDA) joined the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in welcoming the Dental Class of 2016 with its fifteenth annual “Welcome to the Profession” ceremony. During this event the entering dental and dental hygiene students were formally introduced to the profession of dentistry. The platform of speakers included Dean William Dodge, Associate Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Adriana Segura, President of the GSAHDA, Dr. Norma Reyes, Interim President of the National Dental Association of San Antonio, Dr. Loren Alves and President of the San Antonio District Dental Society, Dr. Don Morgan. All gave their words of wisdom and encouragement for the next four years and offered their support for the students. We are confident that the next four years will bring tremendous knowledge and a great deal of confidence to these students. Welcome UTHSCSA class of 2012!


HDA Student Chapter News

UTHealth School of Dentistry at Houston dental hygiene students Nadia Garza, Fouzia Mohammed, Katelyn Oakley, and Brittany Swearengin and dental student Cynthia Corral participated in a community service health fair June 22 at the George I. Sanchez charter school in Houston. George I. Sanchez students in grades Pre-Kindergarten and 7th - 12th grade along with parents were in attendance at the health fair. Dental education materials which included oral hygiene maintenance pamphlets, how to brush and floss handouts, dietary educational coloring books, and information on local dental clinics were distributed to attendees. We also provided oral hygiene instructions/demonstrations on brushing techniques and flossing for parents and children. “The students thoroughly enjoyed the demonstrations along with the toothbrushes and toothpastes which were given to all participants. Preventive dental care and developing healthy habits were emphasized”, states health fair coordinator, Cynthia Corral. George I. Sanchez charter school is funded by the non-profit organization AAMA (The Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans) and is committed to advancing the lives of at-risk and disadvantaged youth and families. One of the many advantages of the student diversity at UTSD and of HSDA, is the ability to provide dental education in English and Spanish at community service events. More than half of the attendees were solely Spanish speakers and being able to answer their questions and equip them with dental education was significant.

George I. Sanchez Charter Community Service Fair

El Centro de Corazon- Dental Hygiene Day

Dental hygiene students from the UT School of Dentistry Hispanic Student Dental Association participated in a community service event at El Centro de Corazon. Participants were Nadia Garza, Brittany Swearengin, Katey Oakley, Fouzia Mohammad and Monica Sanchez who delivered oral hygiene instructions to each patient as well as preventative or therapeutic treatment. Fluoride varnish applications were also part of the treatment provided to patients. Nadia Garza stated “overall, the experience gained from El Centro de Corazon was very educational. Each student was able to have their own case while being supervised by Ms. Margo Melchor, HSDA Faculty Advisor. Each student was very thankful to be a part of this community service event, we all learned new things that we can apply as we see more patients. We look forward to continuing to serve the community at El Centro de Corazon.”

Back row: Nadia Garza, Katie Oakley, Brittany Swearengin. Front row: Margo Y. Melchor, RDH, MEd, Fouzia

Mohammed, Monica Sanchez, Dr. Heather Dent, and Judy Hernandez (dental assistant).

Pictured left to right: Katie Oakley (DH II), Fouzia Mohammed (DH II), Brittany Swearengin (DH II), and Nadia Garza (DH II).


HDA Student Chapter News

Kennedy-King College Hispanic Student Dental Association Participates in 2012 Multi-Cultural Oral Health Summit

L>R: Alyssa Santoro, Anne Clancy, Director of the Dental Hygiene

program at Kennedy-King College, Dr. Nicholas

E. Panomitros (faculty advisor) and Lizzette

Porcayo.

Akshay Thusu, Vice President, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) Dental School, Lizzette Porcayo, Founding President of the Hispanic Student Dental Association of Kennedy-King

College, Chicago, IL, Spencer Rowan, Events Coordinator, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) Dental School, Alyssa Santoro, Treasurer of the HSDA of Kennedy-King College, Chicago,

IL and Jordan Felkner, President, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) Dental School.

Lizzette Porcayo, HDA President Dr. Lilia Larin, Alyssa Santoro and Joeseph M. Potter at the HDA 20th Annual Meeting.

GSA HDA and HSDA-UTHSCSA Student Mixer a Success

The Greater San Antonio Hispanic Dental Association (GSA HDA) worked in conjunction with the Hispanic Dental Association at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (HSDA-UTHSCSA) to welcome incoming students at a friendly mixer on Friday, August 17 at Highlander Bar & Grill. The diverse group of students included dental students, dental hygiene students from UTHSCSA, dental hygiene students from Concordia, and students who are interested in joining the dental field. GSA HDA members, and faculty that supports the GSA HDA mission were also in attendance. The upperclassmen and dental professionals mingled with the dental students and wished them the best in the years to come and reminded them that GSA HDA is there to support them along the way.Dr. Larry Wolinsky with the 2012 Graduates of

Baylor College of Dentistry


The Hispanic Dental Association recognizes with pride these exceptional companies who support its mission of optimizing the oral health of the Hispanic community through service, education, advocacy and leadership.

To learn more about a rewarding partnership with the Hispanic Dental Association, contact the HDA at [email protected].

HDA Corporate RoundTable Sponsors:

Bankers Healthcare Group

Sunstar Butler

Affinity Insurance Services

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE

PAIDSpringfield, IL Permit No. 925

Return Service Requested

National Headquarters: 3085 Stevenson Drive - Suite 200

Springfield, IL 62703

www.hdaassoc.org

Watch for details online at: www.hdassoc.org

Marriott Copley Plaza - Boston, MA

Save the date!

September 26-29, 2013HDA Annual Meeting

Documents

HDA News & Reports Newsletter Fall 2012