Supporting Health Care Workforce Expansion
The University of North Carolina Pride Clinic Story
Health Care Workforce Expansion Act
Introduced by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), the bill aims to address …”The health care workforce shortage, which is especially acute in rural areas.”
“Addressing the healthcare needs of rural communities has been a focus of AIDPH’s work for years, and we are committed to championing this endeavor through efforts like our ROOTED (Rural Oral health Outreach, Training, and Education) series, a national initiative that builds a sustainable, community-driven oral health workforce in rural America. The program supports predoctoral students, practicing clinicians, and oral health professionals through applied learning experiences, reinforcing rural identity as a professional asset and ensuring long-term access to dental care in underserved areas,” said AIDPH Executive Director Dr. Annaliese Cothron.
Read the press release here.
OUR COMMITMENT
At the heart of everything we do is a commitment to the communities that need expanded access to oral health care. We believe that meaningful change happens when we invest in people—both by equipping oral health professionals with the tools to lead and advocate and by amplifying the voices of those most impacted by disparities. And here we are in 2025, celebrating 10 years of pursuing a justice-oriented oral health system—one where dignity, equity, and health are at the center. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, but more than that, we’re energized for what’s ahead.
EDUCATION
- Hosting the 5th cohort of our Federal Service Immersion program
- Started the first Dental Public Health Leadership Academy
- Facilitated community collaboratives on veteran oral health
- Developed advocacy training seminars & toolkit
- Convening our 8th Colloquium
- Trained advocacy fellows, interns, and student volunteers
- Launched Rural Oral Health ECHO
RESEARCH
- AIDPH adopted a community engaged research model in 2021
- 25 self-published and peer-reviewed manuscripts
- Over 50 webinars and scientific presentations at national conferences
- VetDentalData.org – a repository for veteran research
- 15 research interns and fellows
- Thank you to the research partners, collaborators, and funders!
ADVOCACY
- Hosted a veteran oral health hill day and elevated veteran dental care in national policy
- Provided testimony for Senate HELP Committee
- Visited nearly half the states on our veteran oral health road tour
- Advocate for queer inclusion in education and clinical care
- Join rural and Indigenous advocacy efforts nationally
SUPPORT OUR WORK
Testimonials
What people are saying about AIDPH
Being a part of the AIDPH Academy and the Dental Public Health Learning Academy has improved my confidence and efficiency as an early career dental public health professional. I actively apply the concepts taught in the course in my job.
As a member of the inaugural cohort in the AIDPH Dental Public Health Leadership Academy (DPHLA), my experience has been invaluable in shaping my career in public health leadership and as an Associate Professor in Dental Public Health. It provided essential networking opportunities, mentorship, and practical skills that enhanced my ability to address health disparities both in my teaching and research. The collaborative environment fostered by DPHLA deepened my understanding of leadership, policy development and effective community engagement, all of which I’ve been able to integrate as the sole attending of the teledentistry program at my dental institution. Happy 10th Anniversary AIDPH! Here’s to many more years of impactful work and collaboration!”
T. Wilson, DDS, MPH, FICD