“Throughout the pandemic, DentaQuest has been committed to our mission of meeting oral health needs across the country. This campaign provides a kid-specific opportunity to learn lessons they can carry with them and live a healthy lifestyle well into adulthood.”

It comes as no surprise to anyone that the oral health profession continues to lack diversity. According to the American Dental Education Association, in 2016, only 15.2% of the applicants to dental school were from underrepresented populations. Steve Pollock, CEO of DentaQuest, discusses the specific steps DentaQuest is making to make a difference for a diverse future in dentistry.

George Barker and Myechia Minter-Jordan column

By Dr. Michael Monopoli

The first in a two-part series focusing on how CEOs can lead health care organizations in using data to improve disparities, social determinants and community partnerships. Myechia Minter-Jordan, MD, President and CEO, DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement, cautioned against confusing race data with lower income. “We know very clearly that some of the inequities within Black and Brown communities exist regardless of income, particularly as you think about maternal mortality, etc.,” Minter-Jordan said.