267 Views
Seminar - 90 Minutes
Louisa Santos, BDS
President, Pacific Basin Dental Association
Oral Health Division, Ministry of Health, Republic of Palau
Angelica Sabino, DDS
Dental Chief, Oral Health Program, MCH Bureau
Division of Public Health, Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation
Reg Louie, DDS, MPH
Public Health Consultant
Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors
Elaine Pagan, DMD, MSD
Dental Officer, Oral Health Program
Puerto Rico Department of Health
The U.S. Caribbean and Pacific Territories face unique and disadvantageous issues, including harsh challenges and barriers in promoting oral health for their populations. Overcoming these requires systematic approaches, innovations and partnerships locally and internationally. This session will provide an overview of Territorial Oral Health Program (TOHP) strategies and systems implemented to date, including preventive programs using local and multiple U.S. federal funding sources, and public health workforce training/refresher training. To help identify and overcome some challenges and barriers, the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) has engaged key stakeholders and experts to plan and conduct territorial program assessment, identify existing documents and resources to characterize TOHP infrastructure/capacity needs and gaps, and to provide technical assistance and capacity building resources. These efforts are intended to provide some of the foundations upon which TOHPs can promote and enhance oral health for their populations.