Location: School of Public Health, 4200 Valley Drive, University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742-2611
The University of Maryland Herschel S. Horowitz Center for Health Literacy is hosting an oral health symposium in honor of Dr. Alice M. Horowitz. The symposium is "Accelerating Oral and General Health for All through Health Literacy" on Friday, September 16th from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm EDT. This symposium will highlight the career and contributions of Dr. Horowitz in the emergence and growth of oral health as a focal area within the health literacy field and set a course for continued action. Speakers will address oral health and health literacy research, practice, and policy that have developed during the prior 20 years, highlight contributions to and needs for Maryland and the region, and consider the importance of oral health and general health integration as a health literacy and public health issue. The symposium will conclude with a look at future issues and opportunities to advance oral health through health literacy and the role of the Herschel S. Horowitz Center for Health Literacy.
This will be a hybrid event, with options to join virtually or in-person at the College Park campus. Please use the link below to register for the event and get access to the meeting link or parking and location information. Please note that only the opening (10:00 am to 12:00 pm EDT) and closing (2:45 pm to 3:30 pm EDT) sessions will be accessible to virtual attendees. In-person attendees will be provided lunch and can participate in one of three breakout groups in addition to the opening and closing sessions. Check out the full event agenda for more information.
We hope you can join us!
Agenda and event details
10:00 – 10:10 am
Welcome & Opening Remarks
- Dr. Boris Lushniak | Dean, School of Public Health
10:10 – 10:25 am
Lessons Learned from Dr. Alice M. Horowitz
- Dr. Dushanka Kleinman | Associate Dean for Research and Principal Associate Dean
10:25 – 11:30 AM
Reflections to Inform the Future of Oral Health Literacy: Presenter Panel and Discussion
- Dr. Cynthia Baur | Endowed Professor and Director, Herschel S. Horowitz Center for Health Literacy
- Dr. Rima Rudd | Senior Lecturer on Health Literacy, Education and Policy, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
- Dr. Harry Goodman | Consultant and Past Director of the Office of Oral Health
- Dr. Debony Hughes | Director of the Office of Oral Health, Maryland Department of Health
- Dr. Kathryn Atchison | Professor Emeritus, School of Dentistry, UCLA (by Zoom)
- Dr. Jay Kumar | State Dental Director, California Department of Public Health (by Zoom)
11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Discussion and Q & A
1:00 – 2:30 PM
The Breakout Sessions are designed to identify opportunities for future action in order to extend oral health and general health through oral health literacy. Each session will have a facilitator, and participants will contribute.
Session A: Where are we in oral health literacy, and where do we need to go?
Facilitator: Ms. Pamela Vodicka | Senior Public Health Analyst, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, DHHS
This session will consider the breadth of oral health literacy, with a primary focus on two aspects: oral health education for new moms, infants and young kids, and on organizational health literacy.
Session B: How can we maximize and accelerate the uptake of oral health services and knowledge through oral health literacy and extend the Maryland Model?
Facilitator: Ms. Mary Backley | Chief Executive Officer, Maryland Dental Action Coalition (MDAC)
This session will focus on Maryland and the region and identify oral health literacy and general health literacy activities to expand oral health services to populations at risk.
Session C: What are the opportunities to integrate oral health into the growing health workforce, from CHWs to health care systems – in Maryland and beyond?
Facilitator: Dr. Eleanor Fleming | Inaugural Assistant Dean for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, University of Maryland School of Dentistry
This session will explore how to promote educational and organizational policies for health literacy, with a focus on oral health literacy.
2:45 – 3:30 PM
The Future of Oral Health and Health Literacy Research and Practice: From the SPH/Center and Beyond
- Reporting out from each group Session: A, B, C
- Reactions: Drs. Rudd, Kleinman, Baur, and Horowitz
- Closing Comments: Alice M. Horowitz PhD
Student project posters will be on display throughout the event.
- Nolwenn Daniels Oncology Providers’ Knowledge of Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw
- Jamie Su Increasing Awareness For The Importance of a School-Based Dental Sealant Program In Montgomery County.