GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE AND
WELCOME TO LIPSETT AND
LISTENERS.
I'M DR. SHARON JACKSON.
ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTE OF DENTAL AND CRANIAL
FACIAL RESEARCH,O PTOM AND OCD
AND THE NIH OFFICE OF RESEARCH
ON WOMEN'S HEALTH, WELCOME TO
TRAILBLAZER IN HEALTH EQUITY AND
ORAL HEALTH.
WE HAVE AN EXCITING AND FULL
AGENDA STARTING WITH THE TRAILER
OF SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES.
A HUMBLING AND HEART FELT
DOCUMENTARY HIGHLIGHTING
TRAILBLAZER, DR. DHAM BERS,
ARMSTRONG AND McGILL.
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE
TRAILER, DR. WALKER McGILL WILL
MODERATE A CONVERSATION WITH THE
CHIEF PUBLIC AND DR. JENNIFER
WEBSTER CYRIAQUE AND FIRST I
HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE
DR. REDESOUZA WHO WILL WELCOME
YOU AND SAY A FEW WORDS.
>> THANK YOU FOR ORGANIZING THIS
NO SCRIPT BECAUSE I WILL SPEAK
FROM MY HEART, EASY TO DO,
RIGHT.
DR. WALKER-McGILL WE ARE CON
EFFECTED IN SO MANY WAYS,
PROFESSIONALLY, HISTORICALLY.
I THINK I HEARD AND WATCHED YOUR
FILM.
I THINK WE ARE ALL SOULS
TOGETHER.
FOR ME TO TALK ABOUT DISPARITIES
THAT SPECIFICALLY GOES TO ORAL
HEALTH IS EASY BECAUSE WE'RE
HERE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
THROUGH SCIENCE.
BECAUSE SCIENCE FUELS KNOWLEDGE
AND GIVES US A REASON FOR
UNDERSTANDING LIFE ITSELF AND
THE HUMAN PROCESS.
IT IS THROUGH SCIENCE WE CAN
MAKE POLICY REFORM POSSIBLE.
WHEN WE LOOK AT DISPARITIES I
LOOK A LOT AS MULTI-LEVEL,
MULTI-FACTORIAL PHENOMENON AND A
PART OF THE HUMAN PROCESS TO
LOOK AT ANOTHER HUMAN BEING AND
TO BE CASTING AN OPINION AND
ASPERSION, A DISLIKE FOR OR
GREAT LOVE FOR AND IF YOU LOOK
AROUND THE WORLD TODAY YOU CAN
SEE THAT PLAY OUT IN SO MANY
WAYS.
AND WHY ORAL HEALTH IS
IMPORTANT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE
PERFECT SMILE WHICH IS WHAT WE
STRIVE FOR BUT YOU HAVE THE
RIGHT TO USE OUR MEDICAL AND
HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS TO PRESERVE
THAT UNIQUE IDENTITY YOU CALL
YOUR FACE AND SMILE AND
DISTINGUISHES YOU AND DOESN'T
TAKE MUCH TO SEE A HOMELESS MAN
MISSING A TOOTH OR WOMAN, FRONT
TOOTH AND COWERING IN SHAME.
PUT THAT TOOTH BACK, YOU RESTORE
A CHIPPED TOOTH OR LOST TOOTH
BACK AND YOU SEE UNFOLD IN FRONT
YOUR EYES TRANSFORMATION, HOPE
AND PROMISE FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL.
THEY GO INTO THE WORKFORCE AND
HAVE THAT CONFIDENCE.
BUT MORE THAN THAT, THE ORAL
CAVITY ITSELF, THIS PORTAL IS A
PORTAL OF ENTRY INTO THE HUMAN
BODY.
SO ORAL HEALTH IN GENERAL ARE
INEXTRICABLY LINKED.
IT'S OBVIOUS.
IF YOU THINK OF THE
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND
THREATS OF METABOLIC DISEASE
SYNDROME OR DIABETES AND YOU
LOOK AT THE SPECTRUM OF DISEASES
THAT WE EN COUNTER AND I WILL
PUT SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER IN
THAT LIST BECAUSE IT IS A
DISEASE TODAY.
IT'S A NATIONAL HEALTH CRISIS.
EVERY ONE OF THESE SUBSTANCE AND
RISK FACTORS ACTUALLY COME
THROUGH THE MOUTH.
NUTRITION, BAD OR GOOD, TOBACCO,
E-CIGARETTES, ALCOHOL, SUGARS,
ETCETERA, ALL COME THROUGH THE
MOUTH AND EFFECT DIFFERENT
BODILY SYSTEMS.
YET WE CHOOSE TO LEAVE THE HEAD
FLOATING IN SPACE BECAUSE OF WHO
WE ARE IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY.
WE HAVE VISION, HEARING, DENTAL
AND MENTAL.
ALL HERE.
THE BRAIN, WE DO NEED TO SOMEHOW
MAKE IT'S WAY TO THE CENTER OF
ATTENTION AND WE HAVE THE BRAIN
CELL ATLAS WHICH WILL SHED LIGHT
ON A LOT OF OTHER CONDITIONS BUT
THE REST OF IT SEEMS TO FLOAT IN
PLACE BECAUSE THERE'S NO HEALTH
COVERING THAT'S UNIVERSAL THAT
EMBRACES THE SENSES AND
FUNCTIONS WE HAVE.
THAT'S THE FIRST DISPARITY WE
ALMOST HAVE TO TACKLE FIRST
BECAUSE THAT RECOGNITION OF
WANTING A TEAM OF PEOPLE
ALONGSIDE US, MEDICAL
COLLEAGUES, NURSING COLLEAGUES
AT EVERY LEVEL, LEGISLATORS,
EDUCATORS TO RECOGNIZE YOU CAN'T
HAVE GOOD HEALTH IF YOU DON'T
HAVE GOOD ORAL HEALTH.
NOW, IF YOU GO THROUGH THE DATA
AND I WILL SHOW YOU THIS AMAZING
DOCUMENT WHICH I WILL GIVE YOU.
IT'S A SUMMARY OF THE REPORT
THAT WAS FIRST COMMISSIONED BY
SURGEON GENERAL JEROME ADAMS AND
AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST AND WORKED
UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION,
AS A GOOD MAN AND HE DUTY WAS TO
MASK PEOPLE AS THEY WENT TO AND
LOOKED INTO MOUTHS AND SAID OH,
MY GOD, WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?
HE SAW A LOT OF DISEASE AND THAT
PROPELLED HIM TO COMMISSION
NIDCR AND STAKEHOLDERS TO REPORT
ON TO THE ORAL STATUS OF THE
NATION.
THE LAST TIME IT WAS DONE WAS 20
YEARS AGO.
SURGEON GENERAL DAVID SATURE
DID THAT AND THERE COMES THE
PANDEMIC AND PRESIDENT TRUMP AND
ALL THAT PULLED HIM FROM THE
TASK.
WHEN I ARRIVED THAT'S THE FIRST
THING THAT LANDED IN MY LAP.
THE FACT IT'S A SERVICE OF
PUBLIC TO SHOW WHERE WE ARE WAS
A REAL GIFT FOR ME BECAUSE WHAT
IT DID WAS AS WE RECOGNIZED 75
YEARS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM
NIDCR, THE SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY WHOSE FRONTS WERE
CONVERGING FOR THE FIRST TIME
AND A MEAN THAT LITERALLY.
REMEMBER THE INTERNET WAS SUCH A
GREAT THING AND VERY TECHNOLOGY
DRIVEN AND THEN CAME THE GENOME
DISCOVERY AND THAT WAS GREAT
SCIENCE AND NOW WE CONNECT THE
TWO WITH DATA SCIENCE AND GREAT
ADVANCE IN OUR FIELDS.
AND SO WE TOOK THIS ON.
IT WAS A PUBLIC HEALTH DUTY TO
MAKE THIS WHAT WAS HARD TO DEAL
WITH WAS THE ADVANCES WE MADE
AND DEMONSTRATE WAS AT THE
FOREFRONT OF WITH NEW MATERIALS
AND GREAT DEVICES, PREFABRICATED
BRACES AND BRACKETS.
WONDERFUL TRADE LIKE TOOLS FOR
OUR PROFESSION TO SUCCEED
THROUGH THE HEALTH AND SMILE.
I LOOKED AT THAT AND I SAID WOW,
LOTS TO BRAG ABOUT.
THEN CAME THE DATA THAT FOUR OUT
OF FIVE CHILDREN SUFFER FROM
UNTREATED DECAY.
HPV CANCER RISING DESPITE
THERE'S VACCINES AND SURPRISING
IN YOUNG MALES.
A CHILD BORN WITH A STRANGE
LOOKING HEAD OR HOLE OF THE ROOF
OF THE MOUTH RANKS ON TOP OF THE
INHERITED BIRTH DISORDERS.
IT SHOOK ME TO THE CORE.
WHAT ARE WE DOING DIFFERENTLY
AND DOING WRONG?
WRONG IS PROBABLY THE BETTER
WORD TO USE.
WE HAVE ALL THESE RESOURCES AND
STILL HAVE THIS DATA.
I'LL BE TAKING WHAT WE HAVE
PRODUCED AS EVIDENCE AND WHAT WE
KNOW AND TRANSLATING IT INTO
WHAT WE DO.
HOW DO WE DO THAT?
AS YOU MOVE DOWN, HERE AMONGST
US AT NIH WE HAVE 27 INSTITUTES
AND CENTERS.
THE FIRST THINK THAT WAS
IMPORTANT FOR ME TO DO WAS TO
COMMUNICATE THE IMPORTANCE OF
THESE ISSUES TO MY FELLOW
DIRECTORS.
THAT OPENED THE WAY TO
COLLABORATE IN INITIATIVES TO
DRAW TOGETHER IN A
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY WAY
INDIVIDUALS FROM VARIOUS WALKS
OF LIFE AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THE
RESOURCES BECAUSE WE'RE NOT THE
HIGHEST FUNDED INSTITUTE, WE'RE
NOT BAD WITH $500 MILLION WE CAN
DO A LOT BUT WE'RE NOT NIAID OR
NCI AND WERE SUCCESSFUL IN
BRINGING THEM TO THE TABLE.
AS WE MOVE DOWN THE CASCADE OR
HIERARCHY OF DISPARITIES,
AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE
EXPERIENCED HEALTH AND ORAL
HEALTH DIFFERENTLY.
I JUST WATCHED THIS AMAZING SHOW
CALLED ORIGINS AND WROTE A
PHILOSOPHICAL HIGH-LEVEL VIEW
POINT ABOUT A CLASS OF PEOPLE,
POPULATION OF PEOPLE WHO DO NOT
HAVE ACCESS TO SOMETHING WE
CONSIDER A RIGHT AND NOT A
PRIVILEGE.
EVERYTHING WE HAVE DONE FROM THE
STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS WE HAVE
FIVE WHICH BY THE WAY WAS
DEVELOPED INDEPENDENT OF THE
SURGEON GENERAL OF THE REPORT.
MAGICALLY IT BECAME NATURALLY
ALIGNED.
WE DID NOT CHECK BECAUSE I WAS
NOT DOING THE EDITING I WAS
SHEPHERDING IT TO COMPLETION
WHILST GETTING OUR TEAM TOGETHER
IN THE VIRTUAL ERA OF THE
PANDEMIC COMING UP WITH WHERE WE
WANT TO GO IN THE NEXT 25 YEARS.
THE FIRST OF OUR GOALS IS
PROVIDE THE MEAT ON THE BONES
FOR WHAT CONNECTS THE ORAL
CAVITY TO THE REST OF THE BODY.
ASSOCIATIONS ARE ASSOCIATIONS.
WE NEED PROOF.
WE NEED PROOF IF YOU HAVE
PERIODONTAL DISEASE EVEN IN THE
MILDEST FORM AND HAVE TO GO TO
HOSPITAL FOR FRACTURED KNEE OR
LEG, THE CHANCES YOU'LL PICK UP
PNEUMONIA ARE HUGE.
THAT'S A FACT AND THAT IS DATA
DRIVEN.
IF YOU'RE SCHEDULED FOR
CHEMOTHERAPY, THAT YOU HAVE
BETTER HAVE YOUR ORAL HEALTH IN
CHECK BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, YOUR
SALIVARY GLANDS PRODUCE LESS
SALIVA AND YOU'LL HAVE A
MOUTHFUL OF DECAY AND DISEASE.
FINALLY WHEN YOU HAVE AN ORGAN
TRANSPLANT THEY'RE NOT GOING
GIVE YOU AN ORGAN FROM SOMEONE
ELSE -- HOPEFULLY A HUMAN BEING,
AND GIVE YOU ALL THE
IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE DRUGS WHEN
HAVE YOU RAGING PERIODONTAL
DISEASE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE
FOCUS OF INFORMATION THAT'S
GOING TO AFFECT THE SUCCESS OF
THE ORGAN TRANSPLANT ITSELF.
THESE THREE THINGS, JENNIFER,
THANK YOU, AND MIKE I KNOW YOU
WORKED ON THIS WITH CMS AND
MOVED LEGISLATION ON THE FLOOR
REGARDLESS OF YOUR BACKGROUND
RACE, ETHNIC, SOCIO ECONOMIC YOU
WOULD BE ENTITLED TO MEDICARE
COVERAGE IF YOU HAVE A MEDICAL
CONDITION THAT WOULD BENEFIT
FROM GOOD STABLE OPTIMAL ORAL
HEALTH.
THAT IS AMAZING THAT STEP WAS
TAKEN.
I'M ASSUMING IT'S OFFICIAL,
RIGHT, JENNIFER?
OKAY.
YOU'LL CONTINUE THAT.
SO THERE IS A NEED TO CONTINUE
DOWN THE SECOND AIM IS TO TAKE
THAT INFORMATION AND SAY,
MICHAEL, YOU HAVE A UNIQUE
GENETIC BIO CHEMICAL MAKE UP I'M
GOING TO TRY TO PERSONALIZE FOR
YOU AND GIVE YOU THE RIGHT
TREATMENT AT THE RIGHT TIME FOR
THE RIGHT REASON BUT IT'S C
CONNECTED TO AN AIM.
THE THIRD AIM WHERE WE'RE
LOOKING IS IMPLEMENTATION AND
TAKE WHAT WE KNOW AND TRANSLATE
IT AND EACH ONE OF YOU IN YOUR
ROLES CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
THE FOURTH IS FOR US TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAVE A DIVERSE
WORKFORCE AND CONNECT WITH
STAKEHOLDERS.
COLLECTIVELY THAT ADDRESSES THE
MEAT OF THIS AFTERNOON'S
DISCUSSION.
EVERY ONE OF THEM AND JENNIFER I
HOPE YOU WILL HIGHLIGHT
SPECIFICS, IT'S TAILORED TO
REDUCING DISPARITIES THAT EXIST
IN OUR SOCIETY.
WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT IT BECAUSE
OUR DATA SHOWS AFRICAN AMERICANS
ARE MORE AT RISK FOR CERTAIN
DISEASE AND YOU KNOW SOME OF
THEM, WE CAN TELL YOU MORE.
SO WE'RE USING ALL THAT TO MAKE
A DIFFERENCE.
WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE STATUS
OF OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
THE FACT THAT ORAL HEALTH WILL
BE RECOGNIZED IS AN IMPORTANT
AND INTEGRAL PART OF GENERAL
HEALTH AND WELL BEING AND EACH
WILL BE AMBASSADORS FOR THE
MESSAGE AS YOU GO FORTH.
THANK YOU FOR COMING.
I THINK PAUL WILL BE CHANNELLED
THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON AND HIS
MEMORY IS A BLESSING FOR US.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND
THRILLED I CAN HEAR YOU FOR THE
SECOND TIME.
THANK YOU MICHAEL AND OF COURSE
JENNIFER, THANK YOU.
NOW I'LL INTRODUCE DR
DR. WALKER-McGILL WHO IS AN
INTERNIST EXPERIENCED IN
STRATEGIC PLAN AND POPULATION
HEALTH AND CRITICAL MEDICINE,
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, HEALTH
POLICY AND MEDICAL REGULATION.
MORE THAN A TRIPLE THREAT.
SHE IS A PAST CHAIR OF THE
FEDERATION OF STATE MEDICAL
BOARDS AND CURRENTLY SERVES AS A
CONSULTANT FOR THE NORTH
CAROLINA MEDICAL BOARD AND THE
PRODUCER OF A MOVIE AND WHAT I
LEARNED FROM YOUR VARIOUS ROLES
IS THAT YOU ARE THE PERSON WHO
GIVES BACK TO US IN SOCIETY IN
ANY WHICH WAY YOU CAN AND THAT'S
A MODEL FOR US ALL.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT
VERY NICE INTRODUCTION I HAVE TO
SAY IT'S A UNIQUE AND TREASURED
HONOR TO BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON
IN HONOR OF MY HUSBAND DR. PAUL
A. McGILL AND SO HE PASSED IN
2020 UNEXPECTEDLY AND I DECIDE
DO THIS FILM AS A WAY TO SORT OF
HELP ME PERSONALLY AND IT'S
TURNED OUT TO BE SO MUCH MORE
AND SO I CERTAINLY TREASURE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND I
REALLY THANK YOU FOR THAT
INTRODUCTION AND FOR VIEWING THE
FILM, ETCETERA.
SO, "SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES".
AS A KID I ALWAYS THOUGHT ABOUT
SHOES AND MY GRANDMOTHER TALKED
ABOUT A TIME GROWING UP IN SOUTH
CAROLINA WHEN SHE DIDN'T HAVE
SHOES.
IT WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING I
THOUGHT ABOUT AND I WOULD BUY
PIECES MUCH ARTWORK AND THINGS
LIKE THAT ABOUT SHOES.
AND WHEN MY HUSBAND PASSED I WAS
THINKING SO MUCH, WE HAD PLANNED
TO WRITE A BOOK TOGETHER ON
ACKNOWLEDGING TRAILBLAZERS IN
NORTH CAROLINA BOTH IN MEDICINE
AND DENTISTRY.
FOR ANYONE WHO KNOWS US OR KNEW
US, WE WOULD ALWAYS GO TO EACH
OTHER'S MEETING.
I WOULD GO TO THE ORTHODONTIC
MEETINGS AND HE WOULD COME TO
MINE AND WE ALWAYS THOUGHT OF
THINGS TOGETHER AND EVEN WHEN WE
DID AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IN
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA IT WAS
BOTH FOR YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS INTERESTED IN BECOMING
DOCTORS AND THOSE INTERESTED IN
BECOMING DENTIST AND CALLED IT
THE TRACK PROGRAM.
WE FOUND ALMOST EVERYONE WANTED
TO GO INTO DENTISTRY AND FEW
WERE EXPRESSING INTEREST IN
MEDICINE SO I HAD TO WORK HARDER
WITH THAT.
HE ACTUALLY WENT TO THE
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT
CHARLOTTE FOR UNDERGRAD AND CAME
UP TO D.C. AND WAS EDUCATED AT
HOWARD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF
DENTISTRY AND ALSO WHERE HE HAD
HIS ORTHODONTIC TRAINING AND
WHEN HE WENT BACK TO CHARLOTTE
WILL WERE MANY PEOPLE WHO SAID
DON'T COME TO CHARLOTTE BECAUSE
YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SURVIVE AND
HE WENT ANYWAY.
INITIALLY, I REMEMBER HIM
TELLING ME HOW THERE WERE
DENTISTS IN CHARLOTTE WHO WOULD
NOT SEE HIS PATIENTS.
HE WOULD REFER THEM AND THE
DENTISTS WOULD SAY, WE CAN'T
ACTUALLY HAVE THAT PATIENT IN
OUR OFFICE BUT I'M WILLING TO
TALK WITH YOU ON THE PHONE TO
HELP GUIDE YOU THROUGH WHATEVER
PROCEDURE IT WAS THAT WAS
NEEDED.
THAT'S THE ENVIRONMENT HE WENT
INTO.
AND DESPITE THAT, HE THRIVED.
HE WAS A VERY HAPPY MAN.
HE LOVED SERVING THE COMMUNITY
AND HE SET UP IN THIS AREA
CALLED BAILEY'S FORD ROAD ONE OF
THE LESS AFFLUENT AREA OF
CHARLOTTE AND SET UP HIS
ORTHODONTIC PRACTICE UP THERE
AND PRACTICED FOR A LONG TIME
SERVING THE COMMUNITY, HELPING
TRAIN SOME EMPLOYEES TO BECOME
ORTHODONTIC ASSISTANT SO THEY
WOULD NOT JUST WORK IN THE
OFFICE BUT HAVE A CERTIFICATE TO
TAKE WITH THEM THROUGH THE
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF
ORTHODONTICS SO THE NEXT JOB
THEY'D GET THEY'D ABLE TO CLIMB
THE LADDER IN SOME WAY.
INDEED IT'S MY HONOR TO BE HERE
AND TO TALK ABOUT AND TO SHOW
YOU EVEN A TRAILER FROM "SOMEONE
ELSE'S SHOES" AND DR. KENNETH
CHAMBERS IS PART OF OUR CHURCH
IN CHARLOTTE AND MENTOR TO ME
AND DOCTOR OF DR. JULIUS
CHAMBERS A CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY
AND DR. BRENDA ARMSTRONG AND I
REMEMBER MEETING HER WHEN I
FIRST WENT TO DUKE.
SHE WAS AT DUKE AND COMMITTED TO
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS AT
DUKE EVEN BEFORE JUST COMING
INTO UNDERGRAD AND I DID
UNDERGRAD MED SCHOOL AND SHE
INTRODUCED HERSELF TO THE
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS TO SAY
THIS IS WHAT SHE WAS A DOC BUT
THERE FOR EVERYBODY AND THAT
MADE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE.
DR. ARMSTRONG AND INTRODUCED TO
PAUL BUT WITHOUT FURTHER ADO
WE'LL SHOW YOU THE CLIP.
>> EVERY TIME I'M ON IS THE SITE
AND AROUND SOMEBODY WILL DRIVE
BY AND SHOUT OUT THE WINDOW OF
THEIR CAR, MY GRANDMOTHER WAS
BORN THERE OR MY GRANDFATHER
USED TO WORK THERE.
THIS SITE HAS SUCH A STRONG
CONNECTION TO THE SURROUNDING
COMMUNITY.
ST. AGNES WAS FOUNDED IN 1896.
ST. AGNES HOSPITAL WAS
ESTABLISHED IN 1896 BUT STARTED
IN THE HOME OF ONE OF THE
FOUNDERS AND LATER BUILT TO AN
ACTUAL BUILDING SO ST. AGNES WAS
BUILT TO TRAIN TEACHERS AND
TRAIN DOCTORS AND NURSES AND HAD
OVER 500 NURSES THEY TRAINED.
BACK THEN BEING A NURSE WAS LIKE
BEING A DOCTOR OR TEACHER AND
HELD IN HIGH REGARD AND HIGHLY
RESPECTED.
>> THE FIRST NURSES WERE A
GENERATION AWAY FROM SLAVERY SO
THEY WERE NOT LEARNED PEOPLE WHO
OFTEN TIMES FINISHED ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL OR HIGH SCHOOL IN ORDER
TO BECOME A NURSE.
THEY HAD TO GO TO A PROBATIONARY
PERIOD AND WHILE THEY WERE
TRAINING TO BE A NURSE, THEY
TOOK COURSES LIKE COOKING, THEY
TOOK COURSES LIKE SEWING BECAUSE
THEY HAD TO IN MANY CASES SEW
THEIR OWN UNIFORMS AND THEY
REALLY WERE MORE OR LESS BEING
TRAINED TO BE DOMESTIC SERVANTS.
>> IT WAS A SMALL HOSPITAL BUT
MIGHTY.
IT SERVICED THE COMMUNITY AND
BLACK PEOPLE AND WHITE PEOPLE
AND EVENTUALLY CLOSED BECAUSE OF
THE NATURE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING
IN THE MEDICAL FIELD, WHAT WAS
HAPPENING IN MEDICINE AND HOW
THE RESOURCES WERE NOT FUNDED TO
ST. AGNES HOSPITAL SO IT CLOSED
IN 1961.
>> WE'RE REIMAGINING ST. AGNES
TO BE THE HEALTH CARE CENTER FOR
HEALTH DISPARITIES AN IT'S
IMPORTANT TO THE RALEIGH AREA
AND AFRICAN AMERICANS AND WE'LL
STUDY WHY DO WE HAVE SO MANY
DISPARITIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
WHY IS HEALTH CARE STILL NOT
ACCESSIBLE TO SO MANY IN OUR
COMMUNITIES.
WE'LL STUDY THOSE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR HEALTH CARE IN AFRICAN
AMERICANS AND OUR PARTICULAR DNA
OF HEALTH.
>> I HOPE THAT IT WILL BE A
PLACE THAT WILL REMIND OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE OF FROM WHERE WE'VE COME.
>> THE INTEGRATION OF HEALTH
CARE IN NORTH CAROLINA LED FOR
GREATER COLLABORATION AND THE
SHARING OF KNOWLEDGE AMONG
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.
WHILE THERE WERE STILL
CHALLENGES TO BE FACED THE
INTEGRATION OF HEALTH CARE IN
NORTH CAROLINA MARK A STEP
FORWARD IN THE FIGHT FOR EQUAL
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.
DR. KENNETH H. CHAMBERS, ONE OF
THE FIRST BLACK OBSTETRICIAN
GYNECOLOGISTS IN CHARLOTTE,
NORTH CAROLINA.
>> I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN
MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
THERE WERE FEW DOCTORS THERE AND
WE WERE NOT HAPPY WITH THE
SERVICE WE GOT.
SO I LEANED TOWARDS THE MEDICAL
FIELD AND GOT MY BROTHER TO GO
INTO IT TOO BUT CHOSE LAW.
>> HE FOUGHT FOR THE INTEGRATION
FOR THE EDUCATION IN NORTH
CAROLINA AND PAVED THE WAY FOR
EQUAL RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS.
>> DR. CHAMBERS HAS BEEN A GIFT.
HE WILL PROBABLY LAUGH WHEN I
SAY THIS IF HE HEARS THIS AND
OTHERS WILL QUESTION IT BUT IN
MANY WAYS HE'S BEEN AN ANGEL.
>> I HAD BUMPS ALONG THE ROAD.
LOVE EVERYBODY.
BE PREPARED.
CHANGES WILL COME.
THERE BE BUMPS ALONG THE ROAD
BUT YOU CAN SURVIVE IT.
AND OVERCOME IT.
>> DR. BRENDA ARMSTRONG WAS ONE
OF THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICANS
TO ATTEND DUKE UNIVERSITY AS
WELL AS ONE OF THE FIRST BLACK
PRESIDENTS AT DUKE HOSPITAL.
SHE WAS THE SECOND BLACK WOMAN
IN THE UNITED STATES TO BECOME
BOARD CERTIFIED IN PEDIATRIC
CARDIOLOGY A RENOWNED PHYSICIAN
DEDICATING HER LIFE TO IMPROVING
HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AND
MENTORING FUTURE HEALTH CARE
PROFESSIONALS.
>> THE FIRST TIME I MET
DR. BRENDA ARMSTRONG WAS DURING
OUR ORIENTATION AT MEDICAL
SCHOOL.
SHE HAD A DINNER FOR ALL THE
AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS IN
CLASS AND SHARED WHAT TO EXPECT
DURING OUR FIRST YEAR OF SCHOOL,
HOI WE WOULD NEED TO STUDY AND
SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND WHAT WE
COULD EXPECT DURING THE YEAR.
>> THERE WAS AN INCIDENT EVEN
BEFORE MY RESIDENCY THAT IS
IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW ABOUT
WHY I FEEL THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT
EQUITY FOR EVERYBODY.
IN OUR TOWN WE COULD NOT USE THE
HOSPITAL.
IT WAS CALLED PARKVIEW HOSPITAL.
THOUGH MY FATHER AND UNCLE WAS A
PHYSICIAN WE COULDN'T USE THAT
HOSPITAL.
MY MOM'S FINAL PREGNANCY WAS A
BIG PREGNANCY AND MY DAD WENT TO
THE HOSPITAL TO SAY MY MOM WAS
GOING TO NEED A C-SECTION AND
COULD SHE PLEASE BE DELIVERED
THERE AND THEY REFUSED.
SHE WENT INTO LABOR AND THEY
COULDN'T GET HER TO DUKE HAD
WHAT WAS CALLED THE COLORED
WARDS AND THEY WERE AFRAID THAT
SHE AND/OR THE BABY MAY BE IN
JEOPARDY SO THEY DELIVERED HER
AT HOME AND MY BROTHER -- I HAVE
A HARD TIME WITH THIS, MY
BROTHER SUSTAINED A STROKE
BECAUSE OF IT AND I WAS YOUNG
ENOUGH TO KNOW SOMETHING WAS
GOING ON THAT I COULDN'T FIGURE
OUT WHY EVERYONE WAS SO WORRIED
AND WHY MY MOM WAS CRYING.
HE SURVIVED.
HE WAS PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE
MOST BRILLIANT OF THE THREE OF
US.
THAT MOMENT IS WHY I AM A
PHYSICIAN.
IT ALSO WAS THE DEFINING MOMENT
FOR ME ABOUT WHAT DISPARITIES
REALLY WERE.
>> ANOTHER NORTH CAROLINA
TRAILBLAZER WAS DR. PAUL A.
McGILL.
THE FIRST BLACK ORTHODONTIST IN
CHARLOTTE.
HE WAS DEDICATED TO SERVING
EVERYONE OFTEN PROVIDING CARE
WITHOUT CHARGE.
DR. McGILL OVERCAME
DISCRIMINATION AND ADVERSITY TO
BECOME A RESPECTED HEALTH CARE
PROFESSIONAL AND MENTOR FOR
YOUNG STUDENTS AS SPIRING TO BE
DENTISTS AND ORTHODONTISTS.
>> HE DIDN'T ALLOW THE STIGMA
WHEN GOING TO SCHOOL AND
GRADUATE SCHOOL AS AN AFRICAN
AMERICAN.
I BELIEVE GORDON PARKS AND HIS
BOOK "A CHOICE OF WEAPONS," HE
SAID HIS MOM TOLD HIM NOT TO BE
THE STIGMA OF HIS COLOR TO BE A
BARRIER.
HE DIDN'T ALLOW STIGMA, YOU
CAN'T DO THAT OR GO THERE.
>> ONE OF THE MAIN GOALS I HAD
WHEN I DECIDED TO GO TO DENTAL
SCHOOL WAS TO COME BACK TO
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA TO BE
AN ORTHODONTIST HERE.
THERE WERE NO BLACK
ORTHODONTISTS IN CHARLOTTE NIL
ARRIVED.
I WAS THE FIRST BLACK
ORTHODONTIST TO COME TO
CHARLOTTE AND SECOND TO COME TO
THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
IT WAS GOOD FOR ME IN CHARLOTTE
AND THEREFORE I TALKED TO
OTHERS.
I HAVE MENTORED STUDENTS FROM
DAY ONE AFTER I GOT OUT OF
SCHOOL, I BOUGHT MY FIRST
PRACTICE WHICH IS ONLY SIX
MONTHS AFTER I GOT OUT OF
SCHOOL.
A LOT OF MY ASSISTANTS DECIDED
FROM JUST MY TALKING WITH THEM
TO BECOME DENTISTS AND SOME HAD
MOVED ON TO ORTHODONTISTS.
>> I REMEMBER MEETING DR. McGILL
RIGHT AS I CAME TO SHORE --
CHARLOTTE AND I APPRECIATED HIM
BEING A MENTOR TO ME.
>> HE GAVE WITH THE SPIRIT OF
WARMTH AND SPIRIT OF LOVE AND
AGAIN A GENTLE GIANT.
HE COULD HUG YOU AND SMILE AND
TURN HIS HEAD TO THE SIDE AND
SAY THAT WAS HEALING WITHIN
ITSELF.
>> WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON.
IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY
HERE TO TALK WITH YOU REAR
ADMIRAL DR. MICHAEL JOHNSON AND
WITH YOU, DEPUTY DIRECTOR
DR. WEBSTER-CYRIAQUE AND
DR. DESOUZA A SPECIAL THANKS.
WE HEARD ABOUT TRAILBLAZER.
YOU ALL ARE TRAILBLAZER
YOURSELVES BUT I'M WONDERING IF
YOU CAN SHARE WITH US WHAT THOSE
TRAILBLAZER MEANT TO YOU OR TO
THE COMMUNITIES.
>> IT HARKENED BACK TO MY OWN
JOURNEY, MENTAL HEALTH AS AN
INTRICATE PART OF OUR FAMILY
THAT EXISTED.
MY FATHER WHO WAS BORN IN 1935
SHARED WITH ME AN EXPERIENCE IN
SCHOOL WHERE A HEALTH CARE
PROVIDER CAME IN AND
DEMONSTRATED AND SHARED WITH HIM
HEALTH LITERACY, HOW TO TAKE
CARE OF YOUR TEETH HOW TO PAY
ATTENTION TO YOUR BODY AND THAT
RESONATED WITH MY FATHER.
THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE, THAT
EXPOSURE INFORMED HIS DECISION
ABOUT HEALTH.
WHEN I CAME ON AND GREW UP IN
THE HOUSEHOLD, GOING TO A
DOCTOR, GOING TO A DENTIST WAS
PART OF OUR EXPERIENCE.
SO, MY EXPOSURE TO A DENTIST AND
A PHYSICIAN ON A REGULAR BASIS,
ANNUAL CHECKUPS WAS VERY
POSITIVE.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, MY
FATHER WHO IS NO LONGER WITH US
AT THE AGE 80, PASSED AWAY WITH
A FULL COMPLEMENT OF TEETH.
I AM 62 YEARS OF AGE AND I HAVE
NEVER HAD A CAVITY.
AND JUST THE RESPONSE FROM THE
AUDIENCE, I SHOULD NOT BE AN
OUTLIER.
WE KNOW PREVENTION STRATEGIES
WORK.
THEY'RE EFFECTIVE.
THE PERSON THAT SHOULD BE IN
THIS CHAIR IS SOMEONE WHO HAS
CAVITIES AND WE'RE WONDERING AND
SCRATCHING OUR HEAD HOW DID THAT
HAPPEN.
INSTEAD, MY STORY IS UNIQUE.
WHEREAS MY FATHER WHO GREW UP IN
TENNESSEE IN THE RURAL AREA HAD
ACCESS TO THIS INDIVIDUAL WHO
CAME INTO THE SCHOOL, PLANTED
THE SEED AND DIDN'T BENEFIT FROM
THE SHADE FROM THAT TREE.
HE HAD NO IDEA THAT HIS
INFLUENCE, SOME DAY THE PERSON
WHO WAS TREATING WOULD SOME DAY
HAVE A SON THAT'S A DENTIST.
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO
EMPHASIZE ORAL HEALTH LITERACY,
HEALTH LITERACY, ENSURE WE HAVE
A POPULATION OF PROVIDERS THAT
REPRESENT THE POPULATION SO THEY
SEE THEMSELVES AND LOOKING AT
THE FILM IT RESONATES WITH ME
THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING THE
MESS
MESSAGE, PUSHING THAT FORWARD
AND LOOKING BACK TO WHAT WORKS
AND AMPLIFYING THE MESSAGE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT AND FOR
THE QUESTION.
THIS RESONATED FOR ME IN SO MANY
WAYS.
MY FAMILY -- MY MOTHER'S FAMILY
IS ORIGINALLY FROM NORTH
CAROLINA AND I'VE LIVED IN NORTH
CAROLINA 25 YEARS.
MY SISTER WENT TO A SEGREGATED
SCHOOL IN NORTH CAROLINA.
WE HAVE A DISTANT COUSIN WHO
WANTED TO GO TO MEDICAL SCHOOL
BUT PAID TO GO TO HOWARD BECAUSE
UNC DIDN'T TAKE BLACK PEOPLE
SPECIFICALLY THAT WAS THE ONLY
SCHOOL IN THE STATE.
BRENDA ARMSTRONG AT DUKE -- I
LIVED IN THE RESEARCH TRIANGLE
PARK AREA AND NOT ONLY DID SHE
REACH OUT TO THE STUDENTS, SHE
REACHED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY IN
A VERY REAL WAY.
SHE AS A PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGIST
RECOGNIZED HOW IMPORTANT HEALTH
WAS TO CHILDREN.
SHE WAS THE PERSON WHO RAN THE
PROGRAM CALLED DURHAM STRIDERS
AND SHE DID ALL THE FPHYSICALS
FOR ALL THE KIDS IN THE RUNNING
CLUB AND CHECK IN ON THE KIDS
AND MY SON WAS IN THE CLUB AND
DID NOT LIKE TO RUN BUT HE DID
THE SHOT PUT AND SOME OF THE
WORK ETHIC WAS IMPORTANT FOR HIM
AS HE WENT ON TO PLAY SPORTS AT
THE COLLEGE LEVEL.
SHE MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN SO
MANY WAYS TO SO MANY.
I THINK THE MESSAGE FROM
DR. CHAMBERS ABOUT LOVING
EVERYONE AND BEING PREPARED IS
THE WAY WE WILL MOVE BEYOND
THESE DISPARITIES.
MY FAMILY GREW UP NOT BEING ABLE
TO GO TO THE DOCTOR BECAUSE THEY
LIVED OUTSIDE RALEIGH AND
THERE'S SPECIFIC PLACE THEY CAN
GO TO THE HOSPITAL OR BE SEEN OR
SCHOOL AND THAT'S HOW I GREW UP.
MY PARENTS MIGRATED UP TO NEW
YORK SO WE COULD HAVE BETTER
OPPORTUNITIES AND WHY I WAS BORN
IN NEW YORK.
I CAN GO ON AND ON BUT I WILL
NOT BUT MANY THINGS RES IN A LOT
-- RESONATED FOR ME IN THE
FILM.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO
TALK ABOUT IS HEALTH EQUITY AND
REALLY SPECIFICALLY DENTAL,
EQUITY AND DENTAL CARE AND
ACCESS TO CARE.
SO CAN YOU TELL US WHO ARE HERE
AND ALSO FOR THOSE WHO ARE PART
OF OUR VIRTUAL AUDIENCE WHAT YOU
ARE DOING AND YOUR ORGANIZATIONS
OR AGENCIES ARE DOING TO HELP US
ACHIEVE HEALTH EQUITY OR DENTAL
HEALTH EQUITY?
>> I TWO ROLES.
I'M THE NATIONAL CHIEF FOR THE
FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS I'VE
BEEN IN THAT ROLE FOR THREE
YEARS.
RECOGNIZING THE POPULATION WE
SERVE, ADULTS IN CUSTODY COME
FROM DISADVANTAGED HOMES AND
HAVE UNMET NEEDS.
AS A DECISION MAKER, I AM
FOCUSSED AT LOOKING AT SYSTEMS
WHERE WE COULD PROVIDE THE
SERVICES TO THE PATIENT AND
PROVIDE THEM TO THE COMMUNITY
WITH ALL THEIR DENTAL NEEDS MET.
OUR MISSION IS TO REHABILITATE
ADULTS IN CUSTODY AT SOME POINT
ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE
COMMUNITY AND THEY'RE GOING TO
BE OUR NEIGHBORS AND WHAT WE
NEED AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS TO
ASSURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS NOT
DRAINED WITH TRYING TO PROVIDE
EMERGENCY SERVICES OF CARE TO A
POPULATION THAT HAS BEEN
INCARCERATED.
SO MY GOAL IS TO FIND THE
RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT WE
ADDRESS THE UNMET NEEDS OF THOSE
INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE COME TO US
AND ENSURE THEY GO BACK INTO THE
COMMUNITY WITH THOSE NEEDS MET
AND NOT DRAIN THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE ARE GOOD NEIGHBORS.
THAT'S ONE PIECE.
>> YOU SAID BEFORE I MOVE ON,
YOU SAID YOU HAVE TWO ROLES.
>> I DO.
THE OTHER ROLE IS WE HAVE A
NUMBER OF STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN
PUBLISHED AND ISSUED.
WHAT WE DON'T HAVE IS A NATIONAL
STRATEGY SO
IT IS MY GOAL DID, IT IS OUR
GOAL TO PUT THIS ON THE
FOREFRONT ESPECIALLY -- I
BELIEVE THIS IS A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THE
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF HEALTH,
ADMIRAL LAVIGNE AND THE WHITE
HOUSE HAS ORAL HEALTH ON THEIR
RADAR.
WE'RE LOOKING AT AVENUES WE
COULD ALIGN AND PULL BACK
TOGETHER AND IDENTIFY AGAIN
PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES AS WELL AS
TACKLE -- BECAUSE HEALTH
DISPARITY STILL REMAINS A
CHALLENGE FOR SOME GROUP
POPULATIONS.
WHY IS THAT?
LET'S PUT FORWARD A NATIONAL
STRATEGY SIMILAR TO THE
NUTRITION STRATEGY.
THAT IS TOP PRIORITY AS A
NATIONAL CHIEF DENTIST TO BE
ABLE TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION
WITH THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF
HEALTH BECAUSE THAT'S MY ROLE IS
TO PROVIDE THAT EXPERTISE.
THE SURGEON GENERAL CAN GO AND
SPEAK TO THE POPULATION AND MAKE
THAT ONE OF HIS PRIORITIES.
THAT'S MY GOAL.
>> AND TOWARD THAT END BEFORE I
GO INTO EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE
DOING, NIDCR IS WORKING TOGETHER
WITH THE ORAL HEALTH
COORDINATING COMMITTEE AND REAR
ADMIRAL JOHNSON TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH AN ACTION ORIENTED REPORT
BY THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
TOGETHER WITH MOVING FORWARD
WITH A NATIONAL STRATEGIC
FRAMEWORK AND THEN BRINGING
TOGETHER THE STRENGTHS OF EACH
OF THE AGENCIES TO HELP MOVE
THINGS FORWARD.
WHAT ARE WE DOING AT NIDCR.
OUR GOAL IS ORAL HEALTH.
WE HEARD FROM DR. D'SOUZA.
THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE GET
THERE?
WE HAVE TO HAVE THE EVIDENCE TO
DRIVE THE POLICIES.
SO, AS A RESEARCH INSTITUTE WE
NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S
HAPPENING AND THERE'S MULTIPLE
S.
WE NEED THE WORKFORCE IN PLACE
AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE
DEMOGRAPHIC IN OUR WORKFORCE
THAT REFLECTS THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA.
SO WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD ON
THAT WITH MULTIPLE PARTNERS
INCLUDING THOSE AT THE NATIONAL
LEVEL, THE AMERICAN DENTAL
ASSOCIATION AND DENTAL EDUCATORS
GROUP AND NATIONAL DENTAL
ASSOCIATION -- THE HISPANIC
DENTAL ASSOCIATION, SOCIETY OF
AMERICAN INDIAN DENTISTS AND AAP
AND OTHERS TO WORK TOWARDS THE
PATHWAY.
THERE'S MULTIPLE INITIATIVES
TARGETED TO PEOPLE OF COLOR AND
DIVERSE INDIVIDUALS.
PEOPLE COMING FROM DIVERSE
BACKGROUNDS AND LOW S.E.S. TO
MAKE SURE THE WORKFORCE IS
BUILDING FORWARD AND BUILDING
PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERS AND WE
KNOW WHAT WORKS AND HAVE TO GET
BEYOND OUR COMMUNITIES AND KNOW
PEOPLE DON'T EXPERIENCE DENTAL
DISEASE IN SILO.
IT'S OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY OTHER
SYSTEMIC ILLNESSES.
WE NEED TO PARTNER AND THERE'S A
COUPLE OF NOSIs ON THE STREETS
OR NOTICES OF SPECIAL INTERESTS
BEING DEVELOPED.
THERE'S A CONCEPT RECENTLY
CLEARED CALLED ADAPT E.Q.
UTILIZING DATA AND DATA SCIENCE
WE HEARD FROM DR. D'SOUZA
EARLIER AND HOW CAN WE USE THE
DATA TO HELP MOVE THINGS FORWARD
CARES AND HEALTH EQUITY AND
WORKING WITH THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTE OF DISPARITIES IN THAT
EFFORT.
MAY BE AWARE THE UNITED STATES
PUBLIC HEALTH TASK FORCE, USPTF
SHARED LAST MAY THAT PRIMARY
CARE PROVIDERS THE EVIDENCE DID
NOT EXIST SUCH THAT THE PRIMARY
CARE PROVIDERS, MEDICAL, COULD
PROVIDER ORAL EXAMINATIONS OR
PREVENTATIVE SERVICES.
WE NEED TO MOVE THAT FORWARD IN
AGES 5-17 AND ADULTS THROUGHOUT
THE LIFE SPAN AND PLAN A STUDY
AT CO-LOCATED SITES ACROSS THE
KOVENLTRY -- COUNTRY ALIGNED
WITH PRISONS AND FEDERALLY
QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS WHERE
THEY'RE LOCATED AND DEMONSTRATE
IN A STUDY THAT'S NATIONAL WHERE
WE HAVE OVER REPRESENTED
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IF WE
TEACH INTERVENTIONS TO THE
MEDICAL AND DENTAL AND THERE'S
REFERRAL FOR COMPREHENSIVE CARE
FOR DENTISTRY, WHAT DIFFERENCE
DOES IT MAKE TO THEIR OVER ALL
HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE AND
SOCIETY IN TERMS OF COST?
BECAUSE I CAN BET YOU -- BUT
LET'S DO THE STUDY FIRST BUT
IT'S LIKELY THE IMPACT WILL BE
SIGNIFICANT WORKING WITH OTHER
INSTITUTES IN AGING, CHILD
HEALTH AND DIABETES AND OTHER
INSTITUTES THERE IS A SHARED
INTEREST OF THE IMPORTANCE OF
ORAL HEALTH AND MANY OTHER
INSTITUTES AS WELL AND HOW IT
IMPACTS OVER ALL HEALTH AND HOW
ORAL HEALTH IS A POTENTIAL
MODIFIABLE RISK FACTOR.
YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO AND I THINK
YOU SHARED NORTH CAROLINA
THERE'S MANY UNDER SERVED S
THROUGHOUT THE STATE IN TERMS OF
THE RATIO WE'RE IN THE 40s.
SO THERE'S MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO
DO OUTREACH LIKE THE MOM'S
CLINICS AND A REMEMBER YOU
SHARING THE DENTAL MOM'S
CLINICS, THE PLACES WHERE YOU
SAW THE MOST MEDICAL DISEASE,
RIGHT.
SO THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT
OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER
SO OUR RESEARCH FOCUSSED ON
MEDICAL-DENTAL INTEGRATION IN
THE CONTEXT OF DISPARITIES WE
HOPE WILL MAKE THINGS MOVE
FORWARD BUT ALSO THE IMPORTANCE
OF PREVENTION AND MOVING TOWARDS
A RESTORATION FREE SITUATION
VERSUS WHILE WE ALSO WORK ON
WHAT ARE THE BEST NEXT MATERIALS
BUT REALLY TRYING TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH PREVENTION.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF GOING ON IN
THE PORTFOLIO TARGETED TO MANY
DIFFERENT GROUPS, NATIVE
AMERICANS AND ALASKANS AND
HISPANIC AND AFRICAN AMERICANS
AND LOW S.E.S.
LOTS INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS ONGOING
AND LARGER EFFORTS WITH OUR
FEDERAL PARTNERS AND OTHER
INSTITUTES.
I'LL STOP THERE.
>> SO, YOU'VE BOTH MENTIONED
SOME THINGS I'M QUITE FAMILIAR
WITH.
ONE IS THE CHALLENGE OF
TRANSLATING WHAT WE FIND IN
RESEARCH INTO ACTUAL CLINICAL
PRACTICE.
I THINK THAT'S ACROSS THE BOARD
IN MEDICINE AND IN DENTISTRY.
AND IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE
BECAUSE WE OFTEN WILL KNOW WHAT
TYPES OF THINGS WILL HELP TO
IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES BUT
THERE ARE JUST GAPS BETWEEN THE
RESEARCH FINDINGS AND INTO
CLINICAL PRACTICE.
AND SO WITH THAT, LET ME ASK YOU
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS FIRST OF ALL YOU
ARE TARGETING MAYBE OR WHAT
WOULD BE THE STRATEGY FOR
TARGETING SOME OF THE LEADERS
OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
PART OF PREPARATION FOR THIS
DISCUSSION TODAY I WAS READING
THROUGH SOME INFORMATION SOME
ARTICLES AND I FOUND ONE THAT
THERE WAS A REPORT THAT WAS
PRODUCED BY THE SULLIVAN
COMMISSION I BELIEVE IN 2022 ON
DISPARITIES.
IT'S INTERESTING.
I'M FROM CHICAGO AND THEY
MENTIONED A PROJECT BROTHERHOOD
OF CHICAGO THAT I BELIEVE WAS
LED BY THE 100 BLACK MEN THERE
AND THEY ACTUALLY SURVEYED THE
ORGANIZATION OF COLLEGE
GRADUATED BLACK MEN AND SURVEYED
THEM ABOUT THEIR ATTITUDES OR
CONCERNS ABOUT ACCESS TO CARE.
THEY USED THAT INFORMATION TO
INFORM A PILOT STUDY THEN DONE
IN ATLANTA, WHICH I ALSO LIVED
IN AT ONE POINT.
SO I FOUND IT VERY INTERESTING
TO SEE HOW THERE'S OPPORTUNITY
OR EVEN SOME PRECEDENT FOR A
THOUGHT LEADER ORGANIZATION AND
USING THAT TO INFORM PROJECTS OR
INITIATED IN UNDER SERVED
COMMUNITIES AND I'M WONDERING,
ONE, IS THAT SOMETHING ON THE
RADAR AND THEN THERE ARE
COMMUNITIES I HOPE ARE LISTENING
TODAY AND WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND
FOR THE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT
AND TRUSTED ENTITIES IN THE
COMMUNITIES.
HOW CAN THEY FIND OUT MORE ABOUT
WHAT THESE INITIATIVES ARE AND
MAYBE WORKING WITH YOU.
I'LL ASK BOTH OF YOU THAT.
>> SO THERE ARE COMMUNITY-BASED
PARTICIPATORY EFFORTS.
SOME SPECIFIC TO DENTISTRY AND
NIDCR AND THAT'S INCLUDING THE
ADAPT EQ AND AS PART OF COVID
THERE, WAS AN EFFORT CALLED CELE
WHICH TARGET ED FAITH-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS AND CHURCHES AND
ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP WITH
UPTAKE OF THE VACCINE AND
COMMUNITY EMBRACING THE SCIENCE.
WE'RE HOPING WE CAN UTILIZE SOME
OF THESE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE
IN ORDER TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD
BUT WE REALLY WANT TO HEAR FROM
THE COMMUNITY AND THERE ARE
CERTAINLY AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE
A CONCEPT FOCUSSED ON
COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH.
IF COMMUNITY INTERESTED, THEY
CAN APPLY FOR THESE GRANTS.
THESE ARE LONGER PROJECTS AND
WHAT'S BEAUTIFUL IS THAT THE
RESEARCH BEGINS WITH THE
COMMUNITY AND IT'S VOICE.
THEN IT GOES INTO BRINGING
RESEARCHERS IN TO HELP THEM
ANSWER THE QUESTION.
THEN MOVES TO HOW WE'LL
IMPLEMENT AND DISSEMINATE THIS
AND STARTS AND STOPS WITH THE
COMMUNITY AND THEY'RE DRIVING
THE RESEARCH.
ENSURING THAT WE'RE GETTING THAT
BUY-IN, HEARING FROM PEOPLE
AROUND ORAL HEALTH AND WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES
AND HOW TO ENSURE THEY'RE
ENGAGED AT THE TABLE IS
IMPORTANT AND THERE ARE NOW
MECHANISMS IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
SO WE'RE HOPING WE CAN DO THIS
AT TWO LEVELS WITHIN OUR EFFORTS
HAPPENING DIRECTLY AT NIDCR BUT
ALSO PARTNERING WITH THESE OTHER
NETWORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE SO
CELE IS ONE EXAMPLE.
THERE'S ANOTHER PRACTICE-BASED
NETWORK THAT'S ONGOING THAT IS
ASSOCIATED WITH RCMI AND THE
FINAL THING -- NOT THE FINAL BUT
ONE ADDITIONAL THING WE HAVE SAY
BRAND NEW PRACTICE-BASED NETWORK
CALLED PRIMED.
IT'S LOCATED AT DENTAL SCHOOLS.
THERE WERE 10 AWARDEES FROM
ACROSS THE WHOLE NATION.
WHAT'S EXCITING ABOUT THIS IS
THEY'RE ALL COLLABORATING.
THEY'RE ALL COLLABORATING WITH
CTSAs THAT HELP WITH CLINICAL
TRIALS AND THEY ALL HAVE OTHER
PARTNERS SO THIS IS MORE THAN 30
DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
BECAUSE THESE ARE CATCHMENT
CENTERS THEY HAVE A DEMOGRAPHIC
THAT LOOKS MORE LIKE THE
U.S. DEMOGRAPHIC AND SEEING
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE VULNERABLE
TO HEALTH DISPARITIES INCLUDING
SPECIAL CARE POPULATIONS AND
PEOPLE WHO HAVE OTHER ILLNESSES
THAT MAKE THE PERSON IN THE
OFFICE MAY NOT BEING COMFORTABLE
SEEING THEM.
SO THERE'S A REAL OPPORTUNITY AS
WELL AS FOR COMMUNITIES TO BE
INVOLVED WITH THAT NETWORK
BECAUSE THEY'RE REACHING OUT TO
THEIR COMMUNITIES AND WORKING
WITH FQHCs AND OTHERS IN THEIR
ENVIRONMENT.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS
ONGOING.
>> MY RESPONSE IS NOT AS
ELABORATE.
I'M AT A HIGHER LEVEL SO
INDIVIDUALS LIKE DOCTOR
WEBSTER-CYRIAQUE AND OTHERS AT
CMS, FDA, OSHA WE COME TOGETHER
IN A FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP CALLED
THE ORAL HEALTH COORDINATING
COMMITTEE AND WORK TO WHERE WE
CAN STRATEGIZE TO MAKE THIS MORE
ACCESSIBLE AND THE CDC HAS
EFFORTS TOE OUTREACH FOR THE
COMMUNITY AS WELL.
SO THAT'S ALSO ACCESSIBLE.
MY ROLE IS TO NOT HAVE US WORK
IN SILOS BUT TO TALK AMONGST
OURSELVES AND NOT RECREATE THE
WHEEL BUT SEE WHAT OTHERS ARE
DOING AND THEN TRY TO PUT THAT
FORWARD AS A STRATEGY AS WAS
MENTIONED ABOUT THE ORAL HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES, ORAL HEALTH
FRAMEWORK.
WE HAD ONE IN 2014, 2017 THAT
EXPIRED.
WE REFRESHED THAT FRAMEWORK AND
IT ALIGNS WITH THE HEALTHY
PEOPLE'S 2030 ORAL HEALTH
INDICATORS.
THAT IS INFORMATION THAT'S GOING
TO BE READILY AVAILABLE TO THE
POPULATION AS WELL AS LEADERS
AND WE ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST
AND LIKE I SAID MY ROLE IS TO
TRY TO CONNECT THE DOTS.
>> IN CONNECTING THE DOTS AND
WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF
IMPROVING COMMUNITY DENTAL
OUTCOMES AND OTHER HEALTH
OUTCOMES BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE
TALK ABOUT HEALTH AS IF
DENTISTS -- DENTAL HEALTH IS
OVER HERE BUT IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT.
MY HUSBAND REMINDED ME OF THAT
ALL THE TIME AND HE'S RIGHT.
BUT WHAT DO YOU FEEL OR BELIEVE
WOULD BE A GOOD STRATEGY FOR
IMPROVING THE PIPELINE FOR
DENTAL PROFESSIONALS SUCH THAT
THE DENTIST TRULY REPRESENTS THE
POPULATION OF THE U.S.?
>> WELL, THAT'S ONE OF MY ROLES
AS NATIONAL CHIEF DENTIST.
WE HAVE AN ADVISORY GROUP THAT
HAS WORK GROUPS AND ONE IS
MINORITY AND THE OTHER IS
RECRUITMENT.
SO WE SPECIFICALLY TARGET HBCUs
AND AREAS WHERE THERE'S A
HISPANIC POPULATION AND A
DIVERSE POPULATION TO GET THEM
EXPOSED TO OTHER CAREERS AND
OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THERE'S
COMMISSION CORPS OR WORKING IN
PRIVATE PRACTICE OR DOING
RESIDENCY.
BUT TO SHOW OUR FACE.
MY EXPERIENCE WHEN I WAS AT
HOWARD UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF
DENTISTRY, THE ONLY RECRUITER
THAT CAME TO OUR SCHOOL WAS THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
IT WAS AIR FORCE.
I HAD NO IDEA THE PUBLIC HEALTH
SERVICE EXISTED.
KNOWING THERE'S A GAP THERE,
IT'S MY CHARGE AND MY
RESPONSIBILITY AS A PERSON OF
COLOR TO BE THE FACE FOR THOSE
INDIVIDUAL WHO MAY NOT KNOW OF
OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST.
THAT'S ONE OF SEVERAL MY
PRIORITIES SO I APPRECIATE THE
QUESTION.
>> THAT'S VERY EXCITING SO
YOU'LL HEAR FROM US AGAIN
BECAUSE WE'RE INTERESTED IN
WORKING WITH HBCUs.
>> IN ONE OF OUR STRATEGIC GOALS
IS TO DIVERSE PATHWAYS FOR
DENTISTRY AND DENTAL RESEARCH AS
WELL.
SO, I SHARED EARLIER WE BROUGHT
TOGETHER THESE DIFFERENT
ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE
SOCIETY OF AMERICAN INDIAN
DENTIST AND NDA, HDA, ADA, THE
AADOCR AND OTHERS AND THAT GROUP
CONVENED LAST SUMMER AND DECIDED
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE K-12.
WHY?
THE DATA'S VERY CLEAR.
BY THE TIME PEOPLE GET TO
COLLEGE, THEY'VE ALREADY DECIDED
WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.
SO GETTING SOME EXPOSURES EARLY
ON IS VERY IMPORTANT.
SO RIGHT NOW THE GROUP CONTINUES
TO CONVENE AND THINKING HOW TO
BUILD A NATIONAL STRATEGY AND
APPLY FOR GRANTS TO ROLL OUT
PROGRAMS THAT WILL EXPOSE PEOPLE
TO DENTISTRY.
WE ALSO HAVE ACROSS FROM HIGH
SCHOOL ALL THE WAY OUT TO
PRACTICING DENTISTS AND PEOPLE
IN THE FIELD, GRANT
OPPORTUNITIES.
PEOPLE CAN GET EXPOSED.
THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT
OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE TARGETED
TO DIVERSE POPULATIONS.
AND FOR MINORITY-SERVING
INSTITUTIONS SPECIFICALLY.
THERE'S ALSO TRAINING GRANTS AND
OPPORTUNITIES IN THAT REALM AND
THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES AT
NIDCR AND WE JUST RELEASED A
RESOURCE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO
SHARE, TARGETED TO HIGH
SCHOOLERS AND MAYBE EARLY
UNDERGRADS GO TO FUTUREUM.COM
AND THERE'S PEOPLE FROM FIELD OF
DENTISTRY AND MANY BACKGROUNDS
AND THEY'RE SHARING THEIR STORY,
JOURNEY, WALK AND WHY IT'S BEEN
A GOOD CAREER FOR THEM AND THOSE
ARE SOME OF THE THINGS ONGOING.
>> IT CERTAINLY SOUNDS LIKE
THERE'S LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES.
LET ME TAKE ADVANTAGE THE TIME
HERE WITH BOTH OF TO YOU ASK YOU
TO GIVE YOU A REAL-LIFE
SITUATION AND I'D LIKE TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WOULD
RECOMMEND.
AND SO I'M A MEMBER OF THE
RALEIGH CHAPTER OF THE LYNX
INCORPORATED AND WE'RE HOSTING
ALONG WITH OTHER CHAPTERS A
LARGE HEALTH FESTIVAL OR EVENT
ON MARCH 16.
IT'S CALLED THE BLACK FAMILY
WELLNESS EVENT.
WE HAVE RIGHT NOW MORE THAN 40
PARTNERS AND DUKE HEALTH, UNC,
WAKEMED, YOU KNOW THE
INSTITUTIONS AND HEALTHY BLUE,
CAROLINA COMPLETE HEALTH JUST
ACROSS THE BOARD INCLUDING 100
BLACK MEN.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY AS YOU KNOW
WITH THINK SERVICES AND THERE
ARE MANY AND WHAT WOULD YOU
RECOMMEND WE CONSIDER TO DO THEN
WHEN WE HAVE ALL THESE FOLKS
THERE AND WHAT WE DON'T HAVE --
THIS IS OUR FAILURE, I THINK, WE
DON'T HAVE ANYONE THAT WOULD
REPRESENT THESE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD COME.
SO THERE ARE HEALTH FAIRES ALL
OVER THE COUNTRY BY MANY
ORGANIZATIONS.
HOW DO YOU THINK THOSE TYPES OF
EVENTS COULD BE USED TO CONNECT
PEOPLE MAYBE FROM THE COMMUNITY
SORT OF TO THE RESEARCH
ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAY HELP TO
FOSTER INTEREST IN BECOMING
RESEARCHERS, ETCETERA?
>> SO I THINK -- I DON'T KNOW IF
YOU'LL HAVE MONITORS OUT THERE
BUT THERE COULD BE FILMS
SHOWCASED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE
HEALTH FAIRE LIKE THE FUTUREUM,
FOR EXAMPLE.
THERE ARE RESEARCHERS ALL OVER.
YOU CAN SAY NIDCR, WE'LL BE AT
THE HEALTH FAIRE AT X, Y, Z
PLACE AND A CAN SAY WE HAVE THIS
AND THIS RESEARCHER AVAILABLE TO
TALK AND SHED LIGHT ON WHAT'S
HAPPENING WITH THIS TYPE OF
DISEASE AND WHY X, Y, Z IS
IMPORTANT.
THERE'S MANY RESEARCHERS ALL
OVER THE COUNTRY THAT CAN BE
AVAILABLE TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS
AND YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE LIKE
DESIREE PALMER.
EVEN THERE HAVE YOU NC STATE,
DUKE AND MANY ARE FUNDED AND CAN
SPREAD THE WORD FOR YOU AND CAN
TARGET WHATEVER AUDIENCE YOU'D
LIKE.
CHILDREN, ADULTS, GERIATRIC,
JUST LET US KNOW.
>> OKAY.
VERY GOOD.
>> NOW, FROM A COMMISSION CORPS
STANDPOINT THAT'S KIND OF IN OUR
WHEELHOUSE.
IF, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU WOULD HAVE
REACHED OUT SEVERAL MONTHS
AGO --
>> NOT NOW.
>> -- WE COULD HAVE TAPPED
INDIVIDUALS IN THE TRIANGLE AREA
CORPS WITH VARIOUS EXPERTISE
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PREPARED
AND COULD SHINE AND FOLLOW
WHATEVER ROAD MAP YOU HAD FOR
THEM OR ALLOW THEM TO DO WHAT
THEY DO BEST.
THE CORPS AND I'M BRAGGING, THE
CORPS HAS REALLY HIGH-LEVEL
INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE NOT ONLYING
SPEAKING PLAIN LANGUAGE BUT
KNOWLEDGEABLE, DEDICATED AND
WOULD BE AN ASSESS -- ASSET AND
WOULD BE OVER JOYED TO BE PART
OF THAT.
>> THERE'LL BE ANOTHER ONE MARCH
OF NEXT YEAR AND AS WE THINK
ABOUT TRYING TO TRANSLATE FROM
RESEARCH TO THE COMMUNITY AND
MAKING SURE WE HAVE
COMMUNICATION BOTH WAYS SO
PEOPLE GET USED TO BEING AROUND
RESEARCHERS AND HAVING THE
CONVERSATIONS BEFORE A STUDY IS
DONE.
>> AND MAYBE A ROUND TABLE WHERE
THE COMMUNITY SITS DOWN WITH
PEOPLE FROM THE COMMISSION CORPS
OR RESEARCHERS TO SHARE HERE'S
WHAT OUR FRUSTRATION IS, HERE'S
WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE AND MAYBE
HAVING SESSIONS LIKE THAT
PLANNED.
>> I LIKE THAT A LOT.
I LOVE ROUNDTABLE.
I THINK THAT'S WONDERFUL.
IT'S HARD FOR KNOW THINK BEYOND
THE ROUNDTABLE CONCEPT.
>> I'M ALSO PART OF A
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AND
THE INDIVIDUALS ON THE CALL
THERE'S ABOUT 80 FOLKS WE MEET
WOULD DEFINITELY IDENTIFY
SOMEONE WHO WOULD BE A
PARTICIPANT OR WHATEVER YOUR
NEEDS ARE SO NOW YOU HAVE
CONNECTIONS.
>> JUST COME UP TO BETHESDA AND
YOU'LL GET CONNECTIONS.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
LET ME GO BACK TO SOMETHING FOR
A MOMENT AND THAT'S TALKING
ABOUT HBCUs.
WHEN YOU STARTED WE HAD THE
BENEFIT, THE ADDED BENEFIT OF
HAVING A SHORT CLIP SHOW
INITIALLY THAT TALKED ABOUT
ST. AGNES HOSPITAL.
ST. AGNES HOSPITAL WAS ACTUALLY
FOUNDED ON THE CAMPUS OF
ST. AUGUSTINE IN NORTH CAROLINA
AND CLOSED IN 1961.
ST. AGNES FOR MANY WOULD SAY WAS
THE BEST EQUIPPED HOSPITAL FOR A
WHILE BETWEEN ATLANTA AND D.C.
THERE WERE MANY HOSPITALS THAT
WERE IN EXISTENCE AT IT TIME BUT
MANY OF WHICH DID NOT ADMIT
BLACK PATIENTS.
SO WE WOULD CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE
EVERYONE HERE IF YOU GET A
CHANCE TO GO ON THE NIH SITE AND
CONNECT AND SEE THE FILM IT'S
ABOUT 24 MINUTES TO GIVE YOU A
LITTLE HISTORY ON THAT.
HBCUs HAVE SERVED A VERY VITAL
ROLE IN OUR COUNTRY.
THEY HELP TO EDUCATE AND TRAIN
STUDENTS WHO FEED THE PIPELINE
IN MANY WAYS.
AND IF WERE NOT FOR THEM AND
SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PROFESSION
SCHOOLS, HOWARD AND MAHARRY
WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO SEE WHERE
WE WOULD BE AS FAR AS THE HEALTH
CARE WORKFORCE.
I'M WONDERING BECAUSE I DO WORK
WITH SOME OF THE HBCU EASY IN
RALEIGH AND THEY'RE UNDER FUND,
STRESSED, HAVING LOTS OF ISSUES.
WHEN YOU MEET THE STUDENTS THERE
YOU WOULD NEVER NOT.
THEY'RE FUFL PROMISE.
-- THEY'RE FULL OF PROMISE.
THEY NEED CONNECTIONS.
THEY NEED HELP.
WHAT ARE YOUR CURRENT
RELATIONSHIPS.
I KNOW SOME CONVERSATIONS ARE
ONGOING WITH THE HBCUs BUT IF
I'M A STUDENT AND WANT TO KNOW
WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IN THE
SUMMER OR THAT TYPE OF THING,
CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT
MORE FOR THOSE WHO ARE TUNED IN
TO SAY WHAT SHOULD THEY DO?
AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
SPECIFIC PRIVATE PARTNER BECAUSE
SOME HBCUs ARE PRIVATE AND
PUBLIC-PRIVATE RELATIONSHIPS
THAT MAY BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE
NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS?
>> AS MY ROLE AS CHIEF OF THE
DENTAL CATEGORY, AS I SHARED
EARLIER, IT'S A TOP PRIORITY FOR
KNOW GO TO THOSE SCHOOLS AND
SPEAK TO THE OPPORTUNITIES AND
CAREERS AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS
NOT JUST AT DENTAL SCHOOLS BUT
UNDERGRAD AND HIGH SCHOOLS AND
SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
AS FAR AS WHAT ARE WE DOING NOW
AS I SHARED WITH YOU BEFORE, WE
HAVE A DENTAL ADVISORY GROUP
THAT HAS SECTIONS AND WE HAVE A
MINORITY SECTION.
WE HAVE A RECRUITMENT PIECE,
THEY'RE GOING OUT TO THE
INSTITUTIONS AND PROVIDING THAT
INFORMATION.
SINCE I'VE COME ON BOARD, I'VE
REQUESTED ON THOSE SO THEY
CONDITION SEE A FACE AND HEAR MY
HISTORY.
AS YOU HAD ELOQUENTLY STATED,
WHERE WOULD I BE IF NOT FOR
HOWARD UNIVERSITY.
THAT'S WHERE I GRADUATED FROM
DENTAL SCHOOL AND THE BEST FOUR
YEARS I'VE HAD IN EXPERIENCE.
NOT EVERYONE ENJOYED DENTAL
SCHOOL.
I LOVED IT.
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I SAW
FOLKS WHO LOOKED LIKE ME AND I
DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY OR CONCERN
MYSELF, DID I GET THE GRADE
BECAUSE OF SOME OTHER FACTOR?
WHATEVER GRADE I GOT AT HOWARD
UNIVERSITY IS THE GRADE I
DESERVED.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO UPLIFT THOSE
INSTITUTIONS MORE SO NOW THAN
EVER.
I HAVE A GREAT RESPECT AND THAT
IS MY CHARGE TO GO TO THOSE
INSTITUTIONS AS WELL AS TO
UNDERGRAD SECONDARY AND PRIMARY
SCHOOLS.
>> AMONG THE PRIMED NETWORK OF
THOSE SCHOOLS ARE HOWARD AND
MAHARRY.
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
ONE THING THAT'S CRITICAL IS TO
HELP MINORITY-SERVING
INSTITUTIONS COMPETE AND THERE'S
SIGNIFICANCE IN PROVIDING
LOWER-RESOURCED INSTITUTIONS AND
MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS
WITH SUPPORT TO HELP BUILD, FOR
EXAMPLE, HELP THEM GET THE
EQUIPMENT THEY NEED.
THERE'S EQUIPMENT GRANTS TO
APPLY FOR AND MUCH EFFORTS HAVE
COME THROUGH THE UNITE PROGRAM
HERE AT NIH.
BUT THERE ARE ALSO MANY IN THE R
GRANT AND GRANTS HAVE LETTERS ON
THEM, EVERY R GRANT HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BRING ON A
DIVERSE INDIVIDUAL.
THAT'S SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER
UTILIZED AND IT'S CALLED THE
DIVERSITY SUPPLEMENT TO HAVE
PEOPLE COME ON BOARD AND GET
INVOLVED WITH RESEARCH.
PEOPLE CAN COME TO NIH AND MANY
HAVE AND BECOME PART OF THE
INTRAMURAL PROGRAM FOR THE
SUMMER OR TO DO A POST-BAC FOR A
YEAR AND GET THE EXPOSURE.
IN THE CONTEXT OF THE EXTRAMURAL
WORLD, THERE ARE TRAINING GRANTS
AT THE UNDERGRAD AND DENTAL
SCHOOL LEVELS BUT ALSO Ph.D. FOR
THOSE INTERESTED IN RESEARCH
WITH DIVERSITY FOCUS.
THERE'S MANY OPPORTUNITIES SO WE
JUST HAVE TO GET THE WORD OUT TO
PEOPLE AND LET THEM KNOW.
IN FACT OUR DEI OFFICER IS
WORKING ON REACHING OUT TO THE
SCHOOLS AND WE'RE BEING
INTENTIONAL ABOUT TARGETING
HBCUs AND OTHER MINORITY-SERVING
INSTITUTIONS TO LET THEM KNOW
ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES IN DENTISTRY
AND DENTAL RESEARCH.
OFTEN TIMES THERE'S A
SIGNIFICANT FOCUS ON MEDICINE
AND ENGINEERING AND THE SAME
STUDENTS CAN DO REALLY WELL IN
DENTAL SCHOOL AND REALLY WELL AT
THE BENCH AND JUST DON'T KNOW.
SO WE'RE WORK REALLY HARD TO
HELP PROVIDER THAT AWARENESS AND
HOW PEOPLE HAVE THOSE
EXPERIENCES SO THEY CAN JOIN THE
FIELD TO HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
WE'RE A LITTLE BIT OVER TIME SO
I DO APPRECIATE IF PEOPLE
HAVE --
>> IF THERE'S JUST ONE QUESTION
AND NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE THE
OPPORTUNITY, I WILL.
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT REALLY
MISSIONS OF MERCY.
SO IN NORTH CAROLINA AND I KNOW
THEY'RE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF
THE COUNTRY A COUPLE TIMES A
YEAR MISSIONS OF MERCY WOULD
COME AND PROVIDE DENTAL
SERVICES, PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE
DENTAL SERVICE TO ANYONE WILLING
TO STAND IN LINE.
I WENT THE FIRST YEAR WITH MY
HUSBAND I ACTUALLY THOUGHT I
WOULD BE HELPING PEOPLE FILL OUT
THEIR FORMS BECAUSE I THOUGHT
WHAT WOULD A DOCTOR AN M.D. DO
AT A DENTAL SERVICE CLINIC.
I WAS FINE WITH JUST HELPING
PEOPLE, I WRITE OKAY.
I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER BEEN IN
AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE A HEALTH
CARE MEDICAL DOCTOR WAS MORE
NEED AND I'VE DONE CLINICS, I
SPENT MOST MY CAREER IN DOWNTOWN
CHICAGO AND BEEN IN DIFFERENT
AREAS AND I WOULD HAVE TO SAY I
SAW PEOPLE WHO WERE COMING IN
AND HELPING THEM FILL OUT FORMS
BUT I WAS ALSO -- THEY ASKED ME
WELL, HEY, YOU'RE A DOC.
CAN YOU INTERPRET THE BLOOD
PRESSURE ARE OUT OF CONTROL AND
BLOOD GLUCOSE OUT OF CONTROL
BECAUSE THEY WERE DOING THAT
BEFORE SERVICES.
WE HAD TO SEND SEVERAL PEOPLE TO
THE E.R.
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
CONDITION OF TEETH WHEN THEY GET
CHEMO THERAPY AND HOMELESS
PEOPLE WHO ARE TREATED WITH
CHEMOTHERAPY AND RELEASED TO THE
STREETS AND IT HAPPENS MORE
OFTEN THAN YOU THINK.
THIS EXPENSIVE CARE AND THEY'RE
RELEASED TO THE STREET AND THE
LINE WAS AROUND THE CORNER AND I
SAW SCHOOL TEACHERS WHICH
SURPRISED ME.
THERE ARE A LOT OF SCHOOL
TEACHERS.
I SAW PEOPLE WHO ABUSE DRUGS,
METHAMPHETAMINE COMES TO MIND
BECAUSE THE TEETH WERE
INCREDIBLY IMPACTED.
WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THERE'S SUCH
A NEED FOR INTEGRATION OR MORE
INTEGRATION OF DENTAL SERVICES,
ORAL HEALTH AND IT GOES ON BOTH
SIDES WITH THE OMNI MEDICAL
CENTER AND MORE INVOLVEMENT AND
SUPPORT OF ORAL HEALTH SERVICES
BECAUSE IF WE WANT TO IDENTIFY
PEOPLE WITH POORER OUTCOMES, I
SAY GO TO THE CLINICS AND YOU'LL
SEE.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
I THANK YOU DR. JACKSON FOR
HELPING COORDINATE THIS.
I THANK YOU, REAR ADMIRAL
DR. JOHNSON AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR
WEBSTER-CYRIAQUE AND DIRECTOR
D'SOUZA FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND
THANK YOU, DR. JACKSON.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU EVERYONE.
WITH THAT SAID, I THINK WE ARE
ADJOURNED.
THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL,
WONDERFUL PRESENTATION TODAY.
I THANK EACH OF OUR ESTEEMED
SPEAKERS, OUR DIRECTOR AND
AUDIENCE BOTH HERE AND ONLINE.
HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.