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The Oral Health Heroes event is sponsored by the Maryland Dental Action Coalition with support from the DentaQuest Foundation. Maryland Dental Action Coalition
The mission of the Maryland Dental Action Coalition is to develop and maintain a statewide partnership of individuals committed to improved health among all Marylanders through increased oral health prevention, education, advocacy and access to dental care. For more information please visit www.mdac.us.
DentaQuest Foundation
The DentaQuest Foundation is committed to optimal oral health for all Americans through its support of prevention and access to affordable oral health care, and through its partnerships with funders, policy makers and community leaders. For more information please visit www.dentaquestfoundation.org.
Oral Health Heroes Program Moderators Winifred J. Booker
Dr. Winifred J. Booker is a practicing pediatric dentist. Dr. Booker has demonstrated her commitment to improving oral health care in our community through the pediatric dental services that she continues to provide to thousands of Maryland Medicaid children in the Baltimore area. She has developed creative programs that help parents, children and school educators understand the importance of maintaining good oral heath. Dr. Booker has also used her pediatric dentistry knowledge to assist general dentists in incorporating techniques for treating children into their practices.
Ralph Fuccillo
Mr. Ralph Fuccillo has served as President of the DentaQuest Foundation since 2006. Mr. Fuccillo is a seasoned leader in the nonprofit sector with a lifelong career that has included professional and volunteer experiences in education, health and human services, and organizational development. As an advocate for disease prevention and health promotion, his work has focused on the social determinants of health, policy development, and behavior change to reduce injury and violence, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, other preventable illnesses, and oral health.
12:30 p.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks
Winifred J. Booker, Chair Oral Health Heroes Committee Maryland Dental Action Coalition Ralph Fuccillo, President
DentaQuest Foundation
12:40 p.m. Presentation of Maryland Oral Health Heroes Awards
Administrative Hero
Medical Assistance Program
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Legislative Heroes
Team Maryland:
Senator Benjamin Cardin Congressman Elijah Cummings Senator Barbara Mikulski Congressman John Sarbanes
Communications Hero Mary Otto Community Hero Jane Casper 1:20 p.m. Closing Remarks
Program
2011 Maryland Oral Health Heroes
Administrative Heroes
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Medical Assistance Program
Maryland’s Medical Assistance Program staff have demonstrated themselves as true team players, always willing to go beyond what is required when it comes to improving the oral health of Marylanders. Under the leadership of Susan Tucker and her equally dedicated colleagues, the Maryland Medical Assistance program instituted many of the recommendations of the Dental Action Committee (DAC) resulting in successful reforms for the state of Maryland. Maryland’s Medical Assistance Program worked closely with the DAC and the Office of Oral Health to increase reimbursement rates for the provision of dental services. This led to significant increases in the number of dentists willing to participate as providers in the Medicaid Program, thus increasing access to oral health care for thousands of Maryland children.
Communications Hero
Mary Otto
Mary Otto is being recognized for her steadfast advocacy of oral health and her willingness to continue to promote the accessibility of oral health for the poor and underserved. Her seminal article about Deamonte Driver was a catalyst for change in the state of Maryland and throughout the country. It helped Marylanders recognize the importance of oral health and the need for individuals and populations from all walks of life to have access to oral health education, treatment, and preventive services in order to be healthy.
2011 Maryland Oral Health Heroes
Community Hero
Jane Casper
Jane Casper goes above and beyond the call of duty in all aspects of her career as a patient advocate. Her dedication to disadvantaged and underserved populations, including families and children enrolled in Head Start, is recognized and greatly appreciated. As chair of Maryland’s Dental Action Committee (DAC), she was instrumental in guiding a disparate group to consensus in developing the recommendations put forth by DAC. Since that time, she has been unflagging in working toward realizing the recommendations.
Legislative Heroes
Team Maryland: Senator Benjamin Cardin, Congressman Elijah Cummings, Senator Barbara Mikulski, and
Congressman John Sarbanes
Team Maryland led the way by crafting legislation to improve the oral health and overall health of Maryland’s and the nation’s residents. Team Maryland not only championed efforts to increase access to oral health care for Maryland children immediately following the death of 12 year-old Deamonte Driver, they have continued these efforts long after. Most notably, members of Team Maryland were the primary architects of the oral health components in the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. They were also instrumental in helping to establish a soon-to-be-released oral health literacy campaign in the state. Team Maryland has played a major role in casting a national spotlight on oral health as part of general health.
A Special Thanks to the
2011 Oral Health Heroes
Planning Committee
Penny Anderson
Winifred Booker
Carol Caiazzo
Stacy Costello
Jess Donohue
Beth Lowe
Tequila Terry
You’re not healthy, without
good oral health.
C. Everett Koop, MD -U.S. Surgeon General
1982 -1989
Heroes Walk
Among Us
Printed By:
Sollers Point Technical High School Dundalk, Maryland