Dentist & Epidemiologist | Global Oral Health Researcher | UN ECOSOC Representative
Kiran P. Nagdeo, BDS, MPH, is a dentist and epidemiologist committed to advancing oral health as a core component of public health, particularly for underserved populations, women, and children globally. With eight years of clinical dental experience in India, she brings a practice-informed lens to her current work as a PhD candidate in Epidemiology at New York University (NYU) School of Global Public Health, New York, NY. She previously earned her Master of Public Health in Global Health (Epidemiology & Biostatistics) from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, and her dental degree from D.Y. Patil University School of Dentistry, India.
Her work lies at the intersection of global oral health, maternal and child health, nutrition, environmental health, and health equity. Beyond oral health, Kiran has contributed to research that addresses structural inequities across multiple domains, including correctional health, policing and substance use, cardiovascular diseases, and environmental justice. Her academic and leadership efforts are also grounded in a strong commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism (DEIA). She has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and collaborates on interdisciplinary research initiatives both nationally and internationally. Her work is driven by the belief that oral health is foundational – not peripheral – to achieving global health equity, and she continues to advocate for its full integration into public health systems, universal health coverage, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Kiran currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Oral Health Workgroup at the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA), Geneva, Switzerland, and as a United Nations ECOSOC Representative for both WFPHA and the Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders (AOHAB) at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York. In these roles, she has played a key role in conceptualizing and executing high-impact events during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), National Public Health Week (NPHW), and Global Public Health Week (GPHW), among others. Her leadership is grounded in cross-sector collaboration and a deep commitment to elevating oral health within global public health conversations.
Kiran is a 2023 graduate of the Student Leadership in Global Oral Health (SLGOH) program of Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders (AOHAB). Within AOHAB, she has contributed extensively to organizational growth and student engagement. She co-created and served as Program Director for the AOHAB Alumni Association, served as a student mentor for the SLGOH program, and now contributes as a member of the AOHAB Board of Directors and in the UN Representative role. Across these roles, she has helped shape AOHAB’s student and alumni engagement, fostered intergenerational and cross-cultural mentorship, and advanced the organization’s mission at the United Nations and other global platforms, strengthening its role as a leader in global oral health advocacy and capacity-building.
Kiran is also actively involved in the American Public Health Association (APHA), where she holds multiple leadership roles, including Senior Student Fellow in the Maternal and Child Health Section, Education Board Representative & External Relations Chair in the Student Assembly, and Scientific Planning Committee member in the Oral Health Section. As a peer reviewer and moderator for APHA and various academic platforms, she supports scientific programming and review processes that strengthen the field.
Dedicated to education and mentorship, Kiran has supported and taught in graduate-level public health courses at both NYU and Mount Sinai. Her teaching experience reflects a commitment to creating inclusive, equity-driven learning environments that bridge research and practice. She is especially passionate about mentoring early-career dental and public health students. With a strong interest in academic teaching, she aspires to contribute to interdisciplinary education and leadership development at the intersection of oral health, epidemiology, maternal and child health, and global health.
Her work and leadership have been recognized through multiple institutional and national honors, including commencement awards, leadership and community service distinctions, and competitive travel fellowships to present her research at national and international conferences. Notably, she was selected as the student commencement speaker representing all graduating master’s programs at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai – an honor that reflected her academic excellence, leadership, and cross-disciplinary impact.
Kiran’s career is grounded in the pursuit of global oral health equity—building systems that embed oral health into the heart of public health strategy. Drawing on her training in epidemiology, clinical experience as a dentist, and deep commitment to maternal and child health, she works at the intersection of research, policy, and advocacy to help shift global narratives and ensure oral health is no longer sidelined but recognized as essential to sustainable and just health systems.