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Taking Action in Emergency Dental Care and Prevention of Oral Health Disparities: A Fourth Generation Health Disparities Research Initiative
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
: 9:20 a.m. - 9:35 a.m.
Stephen B. Thomas, PhD, FAAHB,
Department of Health Services Administration, Maryland Center for Health Equity, University of Maryland, School of Public Health, College Park, MD
Susan R. Passmore, PhD,
Maryland Center for Health Equity, University of Maryland, School of Public Health, College Park, MD
Shawnta Jackson, MPH,
Maryland Center for Health Equity, University of Maryland, School of Public Health, College Park, MD
James Nalls,
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Washington, Washington, DC
Craig S. Fryer, DrPH, MPH,
Department of Behavioral and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
James Butler III, DrPH, MEd,
Department of Behavioral & Community Health, University of Maryland Center for Health Equity, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD
Mary A. Garza, PhD, MPH,
Department of Behavioral and Community Health, Maryland Center for Health Equity, University of Maryland, School of Public Health, College Park, MD
Jie Chen, PhD,
Department of Health Services Administration, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD
Sandra Crouse Quinn,
School of Public Health, Department of Family Science, University of Maryland, School of Public Health, College Park, MD
In September 2014 the Maryland Center for Health Equity (M-CHE), University of Maryland collaborated with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington DC and the Maryland State Dental Association among others to organize the Mid-Maryland Mission of Mercy and Health Equity Festival (MOM & HEF). Over the course of the two day clinic, approximately 1,029 people received an estimated $1.1M worth of preventive and restorative (endodontic, prosthodontic and oral surgery) dental care at zero cost to the consumer. To accomplish this task organizers transformed the University of Maryland’s Sports Complex into a massive full service clinic with 110 dental stations and involved 1,462 volunteers, including community leaders, health professionals, social work and journalism students, and 560 oral health professionals (dentists, hygienists, assistants). The event generated massive TV and print media coverage reaching an estimated 66 million people. Thousands of people arrived seeking emergency dental care and also received comprehensive wrap-around medical and public health education services including flu vaccinations; screening for diabetes, hypertension, vision, HIV, and blood glucose; bone density; BMI assessments; oral health, nutrition and general health education; and social services including economic, legal services and ACA navigation assistance. This presentation illustrates how the MOM & HEF moved beyond the traditional “health fair” to be a venue for transformative 4th Generation Health Disparity Research complete with opportunities for inter-professional education and the integration of oral, medical and public health service delivery.
Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related education
Public health or related research
Learning Objectives:
Describe how the delivery of direct emergency clinical services attracts populations at risk for a wide range of preventable diseases.
Identify the intersection of multiple clinical and non-clinical providers addressing the individual and social determinants of oral health in particular and health disparities in general.
Discuss how health promotion activities like the MOM & HEF build community capacity to promote policy change and results in a reservoir of good will.
Keyword(s): Health Disparities/Inequities, Oral Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Dr. Stephen Thomas is Director of the Maryland Center for Health Equity. He served as co-Chair of the Mid Maryland Mission of Mercy Executive Committee and served as Chair of the Health Equity Festival subcommittee for the event held on the UMD campus on September of 2014.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
