Milena Hegenauer is a general dentist based in Germany with a strong background in student leadership, international collaboration, and sustainability in oral health. She earned her dental degree from the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU), in this time she initiated and led the student parliament’s Climate Protection Project Group under the FVDZ in 2019. She is also the founder of Youth for Sustainable Oral Health, a network promoting environmentally conscious and equitable practices in dentistry.
Her commitment to global oral health is reflected in her active involvement with the Student Leadership in Global Oral Health (SLGOH) initiative of the Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders since 2021, first as a participant and later as a mentor and Chair of the Mentor Committee (2024–2026). She has represented Germany as an Official Delegate and later as Policy Officer for the European Dental Students’ Association (EDSA), contributing to European-wide dental policy and collaboration.
Her commitment to international engagement includes serving on the Internationalization Commission at the JMU Medical Faculty and speaking at high-profile events such as COP26 and the FDI Sustainability Summit in 2023. She is also the first author of a 2023 publication on sustainability in dentistry.
Currently pursuing a doctoral degree at the Institute of Pathology at JMU, her research focuses on NFAT ablation in CD8+ CAR T cells and its effect on anti-tumor activity. She also volunteered with the Special Smiles program during the Special Olympics in Berlin.
With a passion for sustainable healthcare and global cooperation, she brings a valuable alumni perspective and deep commitment to the mission of AOHAB.