Community Advisory Board
AIDPH proudly introduces our Oral Health Community Advisory Board (CAB), which will provide valuable insights and perspectives to inform our Patient-Centered Outcomes Research/Comparative Effectiveness Research (PCOR/CER) agenda and ensure strategies are deeply rooted in the needs and perspectives of the communities we serve. The Board consists of seven dedicated individuals who represent key AIDPH community areas of focus, including veterans, rural populations, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQIA+ community. They provide guidance based on lived, firsthand experiences that are difficult to fully appreciate through research output alone. In joining, members will receive guidance, support, and training on project objectives, roles, and responsibilities to co-design a path forward.
Dr. Anubhuti Shukla
She/Her
Dr. Anubhuti Shukla is the Director of Community-Based Dental Education at Indiana University School of Dentistry. Her unique skill set, which includes specialized training in special needs dentistry (GPR) and a wealth of knowledge in oral health policy and epidemiology, enables her to address the specific needs of patients with complex medical needs. Dr. Shukla approaches dental care with a dedicated focus on public health principles and health equity. She is a vocal advocate for gender inclusivity in healthcare, and is a Policy Lever lead with the Oral Health Progress and Equity Network (OPEN).
Caleb Brown
He/Him
Caleb Brown, MPH is a Research Associate at Yale School of Nursing. A dedicated HIV advocate and educator, Brown has worked to expand HIV healthcare access, develop educational programs, dismantle stigmas and misconceptions, and provide resources for healthcare providers to encourage the use of best practices. Caleb has worked for and presented for organizations such as the Ryan White Community Planning Group, South Central AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC), Houston AETC, AIDS Foundation Houston, the National Latinx Conference for HIV/HCV/SUB, and the Indiana Primary Health Care Association.
Carmen Vega
She/Her
Carmen Vega is a practicing dental hygienist dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, and empowerment through a strong focus on community outreach in professional endeavors. She has worked with organizations such as NYC Pride and the San Antonio HIV AIDS Foundation. Vega has additionally served as the DEI-MAC Dental Hygiene Association Student Chapter President at the University of Michigan, the Student Liaison for the Michigan Dental Hygienists Association (MDHA) House of Delegates Meeting in 2023, and the President of the Alternative Breaks program at Western Michigan University.
Eric Ballentine
They/Them
Eric Ballentine is a Program Manager for Minority Veterans of America. For ten years, they have performed community organizing, outreach, and advocacy measures aimed at empowering marginalized communities, focusing on veterans and homelessness through a DEIJ lens. Their work includes executive coaching and strategic planning for a diverse variety of nonprofits with varying focus areas. Some of the organizations Ballentine has collaborated with include the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, The Sophia Way, PorchLight (formerly Congregations for the Homeless), and Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs.
Landon Marchant
They/Them
Landon Marchant is a Career Advisor and adjunct professor for the Entrepreneurship and Startups program of the Roger Williams College ’68 Center for Career Exploration. In addition, they are an artist and grantee for Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art’s Capacity Building Grant Program. They bring over a decade of experience in grassroots advocacy and public speaking experience, advising public and private organizations on matters related to DEIJ and community building. Guided by their lived experience as an LGBTQ+ veteran, Marchant’s academic research focuses on socioeconomic mobility and access to care for under-resourced and under-represented populations, with a particular emphasis on improving socioeconomic outcomes.
LaNeidra Williams
She/Her
LaNeidra Williams is a Quality Improvement Specialist at TMF Health Quality Institute and the creator and owner of The Social ExperiMINT, a social and event management company serving the healthcare and hospitality industry. Williams has over 14 years of experience in the dental industry, having served on the Mississippi Oral Health Community Alliance, National Network of Healthcare Hygienists, Tobacco Coalition of Mississippi, and Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH). She also created the oral health curriculum for the MSDH Self Diabetes Management program and led the Pathways 2 Possibilities dental workforce project.
