New York City, October 16, 2024 – The Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders (AOHAB) proudly collaborated with four organizations to create Youth Voices for the Future of Oral Health, a dynamic event that brought together young leaders from around the world to define and shape the future of oral health. Supported by the NYU Dentistry Department of Epidemiology & Health Promotion, American Public Health Association, World Federation of Public Health Associations, Solidarity Dental and the NYU School of Global Public Health, this event provided a unique platform for young professionals to connect with experienced mentors, exchange innovative ideas, and build meaningful collaborations.
The event kicked off with a powerful welcome from NYU Dean Charles Bertolami, followed by remarks from Dr. Fernando Hugo, Chair of Epidemiology and Prevention at NYU and a member of the AOHAB Student Leaders in Global Oral Health Steering Committee. Dr. Hugo introduced Dr. Kiran Nagdeo, a 2023 graduate of the Student Leadership in Global Oral Health program, who now serves as Vice President of the World Federation of Public Health Oral Health Workgroup and Chair of the Initiative Committee for the program. Dr. Nagdeo’ s journey as a young leader exemplifies the impact of this initiative and the promising future it fosters for oral health leadership.
In-person facilitators included:
- Dr. Hyewon Lee, Chair of the World Federation of Public Health Oral Health Workgroup
- Dr. Priyanka Gudsoorkar, from the University of Cincinnati and Solidarity Dental
- Dr. Deborah Weisfuse, President of the Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders
Online sessions were led by Dr. Sujay Mehta from Academy Health, ensuring a seamless hybrid event that engaged participants both locally and internationally. The event attracted a diverse audience from 13 countries, emphasizing the far-reaching impact of this collaborative initiative.
The highlight of the program was a series of powerful presentations from youth leaders who spoke passionately about their career paths and the healthcare systems they are actively involved with. These young professionals shared insights on oral health disparities and the innovative solutions they are developing to address these global challenges.
Dr. Deborah Weisfuse reflected on the event’s success, noting, “More than half of the attendees were college or dental students, many of whom were eager to know when the next Youth Voices event will take place. This highlights a growing interest in global oral health among young people and signals strong potential for the continued growth of this initiative.”
The energy and enthusiasm generated by the event have sparked plans for future development. The AOHAB collaborative committee is scheduled to meet soon to explore ways to expand this concept and build on the success of this year’s event. Our organization continues to work on expanding its impact on future oral health professionals through various initiatives.
The Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders remains committed to fostering collaboration and leadership in global oral health, and we are excited to continue this vital work. Together, we are shaping the future of oral health for generations to come.
For more information, please contact: Jamie Pirowskin, Executive Administrator, Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders at info@aohab.org.