- Rural America Faces Growing Shortage of Eye Surgeons
- NRHA Continues Partnership to Advance Rural Oral Health
- Comments Requested on Mobile Crisis Team Services: An Implementation Toolkit Draft
- Q&A: What Are the Challenges and Opportunities of Small-Town Philanthropy?
- HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson, Joined by Co-Chair of the Congressional Black Maternal Health Caucus Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, Announces New Funding, Policy Action, and Report to Mark Landmark Year of HRSA's Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative
- Biden-Harris Administration Announces $60 Million Investment for Adding Early Morning, Night, and Weekend Hours at Community Health Centers
- Volunteer Opportunity for HUD's Office of Housing Counseling Tribe and TDHE Certification Exam
- Who Needs Dry January More: Rural or Urban Drinkers?
- Rural Families Have 'Critical' Need for More Hospice, Respite Care
- States Help Child Care Centers Expand in Bid To Create More Slots, Lower Prices
- Rural Telehealth Sees More Policy Wins, but Only Short-Term
- Healing a Dark Past: The Long Road To Reopening Hospitals in the Rural South
- Study: Obstetrics Units in Rural Communities Declining
- Q&A: Angela Gonzales (Hopi), on New Indigenous Health Research Dashboard
- Not All Expectant Moms Can Reach a Doctor's Office. This Kentucky Clinic Travels to Them.
Pennsylvania Department of Health Seeks Oral Health Plan Advisory Group Nominations
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) is accepting nominations and applications for dedicated oral health stakeholders to serve on the Pennsylvania Oral Health Plan Advisory Group (OHPAG). Representatives will be selected from one of the nine sectors outlined in the Pennsylvania Oral Health Plan 2020-2030. To nominate a candidate or yourself, please download the application, complete it, and submit it along with a resume and/or CV to c-jmcdanie@pa.gov. The application deadline is May 5 at 4 pm and selected members will be notified via email by May 30.
The OHPAG plays a critical role in guiding the implementation of Pennsylvania Oral Health Plan, identifying priorities, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to improve oral health across the state. Members will have the opportunity to provide strategic input, share expertise, and support initiatives aimed at enhancing oral health outcomes for all Pennsylvanians. DOH encourages nominations from representatives from public health, dental and medical providers, community organizations, academia, insurers, policymakers, individuals with lived experience, and others. A commitment to advancing oral health equity and a willingness to actively participate in meetings are essential.
Please contact Dr. Jonise McDaniel with any questions.
Click here to view the guidelines.
Click here to download the nomination form.
New CE Course Lunched! Integration and Coordination to Improve Patient Experience
The CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is offering a new self-paced course on their website, “Integration and Coordination to Improve the Patient Experience.” The course explores dental care coordination and integrated care as critical components in addressing systemic issues that affect patient outcomes. It offers 1 CEU for dental providers.
Pennsylvania Oral Health Coalition Publishes Annual Report
We are pleased to announce the release of our 2024 Impact Report. Thank you to all of our stakeholders, partners, and funders for making this work possible. We look forward to working collaboratively to improve oral health in 2025 and beyond!
Click here to access the report!
Reducing Sugar-Sweetened and Acidic Beverage Consumption: Pilot Project
The PA Coalition for Oral Health and the Pennsylvania Department of Health Oral Health Program are working together on a multimedia communications campaign for 11–17-year-olds on reducing sugar-sweetened and acidic beverage consumption in certain PA counties.
The project is multifaceted, consisting of a social media campaign, as well as print materials to be displayed in-office/in the waiting room, and an interactive demonstration. They are looking for clinics in Allegheny, Berks, Centre, Clarion, Crawford, Jefferson, Lancaster, or Lehigh counties that would be able to display the print materials and conduct the interactive demonstration at one community event this spring. If spacing is an issue, the sugar-sweetened beverage materials and acid materials can be displayed separately.
The PA Coalition for Oral Health are asking that materials be displayed from March 3, 2025- May 30, 2025, and that during at least one community event during that time, you complete the acid interactive demonstration. All materials will be mailed to you free of charge and are yours to keep at the end of the campaign. The materials that would be displayed in your office/waiting room are:
- One 40×29 tri-fold display board on sugar-sweetened beverages
- One 8.5×11 poster (with built-in easel) on acidity in drinks
- A stack of rack-card sized flyers on acidity in drinks
- A stack of 8.5×11 flyers: Tips for Healthy Sips
- A stack of 8.5×11 flyers: What Should Kids Drink
- A stack of 8.5×11 flyers: A Student Guide to Sugary Drinks
Please email Lia BenYishay by Wednesday, Feb.26, 2025 if you’re interested or if you have any follow-up questions.
Why Oral Health Needs a Home in Medical Education
The Academy at Harvard Medical School is hosting “Why Oral Health Needs a Home in Medical Education” this Thursday, January 30th at 5 pm ET as part of their Medical Education Grand Rounds series. They will cover the importance of oral health content in undergraduate and graduate medical education, review the history of medical-dental education, and preview future opportunities.
U.S. Celebrates 80 Years of Community Water Fluoridation
The United States celebrated 80 years since water fluoridation was initiated in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Join PCOH and the 100+ reputable international health and science organizations in recognizing and celebrating the amazing impact that water fluoridation continues to have. Please consider taking action to promote the benefits of fluoridation so that we can celebrate the next milestone.
Here’s three ways you can take action:
- Join the Statewide Water Action Team (SWAT) and notify PCOH when you hear rumblings about water fluoridation in your local community.
- Review the linked talking points so that you are prepared when talking with others about water fluoridation in the news.
Share printed and electronic resources with patients, colleagues, and community members so that they are aware of the benefits of and science behind fluoridation and fluoride treatments.
Request Free Oral Health Materials from Pennsylvania Oral Health Coalition
Oral health materials are available on the Request Materials page at no cost. Physical and online materials include oral health flyers, posters, rack cards, postcards, and magnets. Topics include general oral health, kids’ health, tobacco/nicotine, workforce, and fluoride.
These resources are great for patient education in waiting rooms, distribution at health fairs and other
community events, and much more.
A New Legislative Session – An Ongoing Commitment to Oral Health
A new legislative session in Pennsylvania kicked off last week, launching a two-year period for lawmakers to address critical priorities in the commonwealth. Amidst a variety of issues set for debate, PA Coalition for Oral Health remains dedicated to advancing policy changes that strengthen oral health infrastructure in Pennsylvania.
To guide our advocacy efforts, we are introducing the PCOH 2025 Policy Agenda. Shaped by PCOH strategic goals, this is our roadmap to promote better oral health outcomes across Pennsylvania.
Appalachian Commission Awards Funds to Collaborative Oral Health Workforce Project in Pennsylvania, Other States
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) awarded $192,050 was awarded to HealthPath Foundation of Ohio to build the oral health workforce and improve access to oral healthcare in North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Impacting 170 counties across four Appalachian states, this project will engage state partners, educational institutions, and state oral health coalitions (including the PA Coalition for Oral Health) in identifying and detailing state-specific needs to address 144 areas that lack an adequate number of dental health professionals—affecting more than 7.8 million Appalachians.
National Oral Health Sealant Learning Communities Collaborative Launched
The National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA) is seeking interested health centers to participate in the “Sealant Learning Communities Collaborative”. The virtual collaborative will take place February-June 2025 and allow for health centers to engage in activities that will improve their UDS Sealant Measure Outcomes. Accepted health centers will participate in four 1-hour interactive virtual webinars. Applications are due December 2.