2025 Conference Agenda
Policy Shifts and Workforce Strategy for Oral Health Equity-Making Sense of Change and Building What's Next

​Morning

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9:00   Welcome, Announcements and Framing the Day Activities

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9:30   Updates by NYS Agencies

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Medicaid Program Updates

Michele Griguts, DDS

Dental Director, Medicaid,

New York State Department of Health

 

Oral Health Priorities and Focus Areas Supporting Preventive Interventions

Dionne J. Richardson, DDS, MPH

New York State Department of Health

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NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD)

Diane Woodward, LMSW

Director of Policy and Clinic Support

OPWDD

 

10:25   Break

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10:40   Concurrent Breakout Sessions

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• Oral Health Resources and Training for Early Childhood
   

​​​​Marlyce James MSEd, RDH, CDA 

President - New York Dental Hygienists' Association 

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• Policy Shifts in Community Water Fluoridation – What’s Happening and What we Can Do to Respond

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Judith Feinstein, MSPH

Consultant/Committee Coordinator

Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors

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• Access by Design: Using Workforce Data to Move Care Where It’s Needed

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Simona Surdu, MD, PHD

Director

Oral Health Workforce Research Center

 

Nafin Harun, Program Manager

Center for Health Workforce Studies

 

11:45   Lunch

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Afternoon

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12:15   Virtual Student Poster Sessions and Visit Our Sponsors
 

Take time to visit our sponsors in the virtual exhibit hall. Our sponsors make this work possible and bring valuable resources to support your efforts in the field. 

And don't miss the virtual student poster session. These emerging professionals are bringing fresh research and innovative ideas to oral health. Your feedback and encouragement mean everything to them. 

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12:45   Awards Presentation
 

Dr. Elmer L. Green Public Health Award

Dr. Elmer L. Green was director of the Bureau of Dental Health from 1985 until 2010. The recipient should demonstrate achievement in the field of oral health promotion and show evidence of challenging traditional policy or public health practice to improve oral health in an ongoing, effective, and innovative manner. 
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Dr. Thomas R. Curran Fluoridation Champion Award

​This award is given to an individual, group of individuals, or organizations for outstanding contributions toward the progress of maintaining or expanding fluoridation in New York State.
 

1:00   Keynote Presentations

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Federal Threats and Opportunities for Oral Health in 2025 and Beyond

Kasey Wilson, MSW

Senior Policy Analyst, Community Catalyst

 

Implications of the Federal Cuts to New York’s Medicaid Program

Lara Kassel

Coalition Coordinator

Medicaid Matters New York

 

2:00   Workforce Priorities and Strategies: Gathering Insights for Action

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Participatory sessions on early childhood oral health, teledentistry, I/DD and training front line workers on oral health.  

 

Join us for interactive breakout sessions where your expertise drives the conversation. Share your insights, challenge assumptions, and help shape recommendations that will inform a workforce report coming out this fall. Your experience matters—bring it to the table. 

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3:00 Summary and Next Steps

 

3:30 Closing. Join us for the after party!