Dr. Julian Fisher serves as the Director of Oral and Planetary Health Policies within the Center for Integrative Global Oral Health at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. In this role, he champions the integration of oral health considerations into broader policy frameworks, recognizing that population oral health is significantly influenced by policies beyond the health sector.
With extensive experience in global health, Dr. Fisher has consulted for organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). He is also the Director of the Zero Water Day Partnership, a German-based nongovernmental organization.
Dr. Fisher has been instrumental in promoting sustainable practices in dentistry, notably through his decade-long engagement with the WHO UNEP Minamata Convention on Mercury, advocating for less invasive and environmentally friendly dental practices. He co-initiated the first sustainability in healthcare and education event during the COP26 Climate Change Summit in 2021, establishing a platform for oral health discussions at subsequent climate change conferences.
His academic contributions include serving on several U.S. National Academy of Medicine working groups, focusing on health and environment, and contributing to frameworks for educating health professionals on the social determinants of health. He is also a co-editor of the forthcoming WHO Starter Guide on integrating social determinants of health into health workforce education and training.
Since 2021, Dr. Fisher has hosted the Global Oral Health Education Module, engaging over 25 dental schools worldwide. This program introduces macro concepts such as One Health and Planetary Health, preparing students for the impacts of climate change on dental practice and oral healthcare.