Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders Strengthens Global Commitment to Inclusive Oral Health at Caribbean Conference
Negril, Jamaica – October 2025 — The Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders (AOHAB) joined global and regional leaders at the Global Conference on Developmental Medicine & Dentistry, held October 11–12, 2025, at the Royalton Negril, Jamaica. The conference—guided by the theme “Building Bridges to Inclusive Health and Wellness for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities”—marked a historic step toward improving access, inclusion, and health outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) across the Caribbean.
The purpose of the conference was to build and sustain momentum for practical, measurable improvements in care for individuals with IDD throughout the region. Over the course of the 2 day program, participants engaged in lectures, and panel discussions. Additionally, a 2 day interactive hands-on practical training was provided by the faculty of UPenn School of Dental Medicine was provided prior to the conference.
Dr. Deborah Weisfuse, President of the Alliance for Oral Health Across and Commissioner, Commission of Dental Accreditation, was invited by Dr. Irving McKenzie, Chief Dental Officer of Jamaica and former Dean of the UTECH College of Oral Health Sciences, who spearheaded bringing this initiative to the Caribbean, to participate—due to our longstanding collaboration with the American Academy of developmental Medicine and Dentistry, an organization with which AOHAB has a long-standing collaboration.
Dr. Weisfuse spoke in the session titled Interdisciplinary Foundations and Holistic Perspectives, emphasizing the importance of integrating oral health into global health frameworks and ensuring that all health professionals recognize their shared responsibility to serve people with disabilities. In addition, she reviewed the how the leadership and professional educational programs of the AOHAB contribute to leveraging interest and accomplishments in dentistry around the world for the IDD populations.
The conference also featured several AOHAB partners and collaborators:
- Dr. Mark Wolff, Dean of Penn Dental Medicine and former AOHAB Secretary, delivered the Opening Keynote Address.
- Dr. Steven Perlman, AOHAB Board Member, Founder of the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes Program, and President of People Advocating for Optimal Health (PAOH), presented the Closing Keynote Address.
- Dr. Seth Keller, neurologist and AADMD leader, spoke about his international Project ECHO model, promoting multidisciplinary care for individuals with IDD.
- Dr. Vincent Sciascia, a family medicine expert from New York City, also a leader from AADMD, discussed innovative community and family-based approaches to oral and general health.
- Dr. Miriam Robbins, Director, Care Centr for Persons with Disabilities and professor of clinical Oral Medicine and Restorative Dentistry.
Prior to the conference, attendees participated in a two-day clinical hands-on training program led by the Penn Dental Medicine Special Care Clinic, directed by Dr. Miriam Robbins, which offered practical instruction in providing sensitive and effective care to patients with special needs.
The highlight of the meeting was the signing of the Caribbean Resolution 2025-01 on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) — a groundbreaking document titled “Caribbean Call to Interdisciplinary Action: Integrating SDGs and Universal Health Coverage to Eliminate Health Disparities for Individuals with IDD.” The Resolution outlines a 5-Pillar Action Plan to advance policy reform, workforce development, infrastructure accessibility, data-driven accountability, and community empowerment across the Caribbean.
“This resolution reflects the power of collaboration across borders and disciplines. By joining hands with our Caribbean colleagues, we are building a sustainable model of inclusive health that bridges medicine, dentistry, and humanity itself,” said Dr. Deborah Weisfuse, President, Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders.
Dr. Weisfuse attended a leadership dinner, convening key leaders to strategize the implementation of the Caribbean Resolution and to plan a follow-up meeting in October 2026, coinciding with National Oral Health Month in the Caribbean.
I am proud to be part of the first Caribbean interdisciplinary meeting of health care professionals to address the needs of children and adults with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities in the region,” said Dr. Steven Perlman, representing People Advocating for Optimal Health (PAOH) We look forward to the action plan and declaration supported by the participating organizations, such as the Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders (AOHAB).”
Through its ongoing leadership and collaboration, the Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders continues to champion inclusive oral health as an essential part of global health equity—bridging nations, professions, and communities to ensure that every person, regardless of ability, has access to dignity, care, and wellness.
About the Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders (AOHAB)
The Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders unifies diverse global voices to positively impact oral health globally. We do this through innovative education and leadership programs, forge cross-sector partnerships, and leverage the power of a growing alumni network to drive measurable impact.