How AIDPH made a difference in advancing dental public health through science and education.
In 2022, AIDPH elevated oral health equity in three areas of focus: LGBTQIA+ people, rural health, and veterans through its signature educational programming and research. We challenged ourselves to deepen our commitment to these communities while answering the call to prioritize a new focus area — people with disabilities.
View our 2021 impact report to learn how we're making a difference in the oral health community
Building on the strides we made in 2021, AIDPH emerged with a clear strategic vision for 2022, rooted in creating strategic partnerships that advance our mission and generate innovative programming. Download the full report below or an executive summary here.
Download our 2020 Impact Report
While 2020 certainly created challenges, AIDPH was able to pivot our efforts to support local, state, and national partners to with creative shifts in programming and new offerings adapted to the virtual environment.
Our Story
The American Institute of Dental Public Health was founded by Dr. David Cappelli and Dr. Annaliese Cothron in 2015, initially through funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Seeing gaps in organizational programming and the need to center health equity as a cornerstone of oral health education and training, AIDPH was established to pursue our mission of fostering professional excellence and advancing innovation in the education and practice of dental public health. Dr. Cothron serves as the Executive Director of AIDPH and Dr. Cappelli chairs the Board of Directors.
Now, five years later, AIDPH is an established 501c3 nonprofit and the only national public health institute solely dedicated to oral health. We offer educational training for oral health professionals, support student growth and career development in dental public health, and serve as conveners of stature to facilitate systems change in the oral health community.
AIDPH believes that, as oral health equity advocates and leaders, it is our responsibility to address individual, institutional, and systemic barriers that keep communities from achieving optimal oral health across the lifespan. When marginalized communities can access dental care from providers who look like them, understand their needs, and support their culture, their oral health and overall health improves significantly. We advocate for oral health workforce diversity using the lens of our core values to galvanize students, public health professionals, policymakers, and thought leaders to invest in health equity.