The UCSF School of Dentistry’s Program in Global Oral Health sponsored the Fifth Annual Global Oral Health Symposium on Monday, May 4. The 2015 symposium brought together more than 150 participants from around the world, including dentists, nutritionists, public health advocates and policy experts, to focus on the theme “Sugar, Nutrition and Oral Health.”
This year’s symposium was co-sponsored by the UCSF Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, which provided video recording of the event.
The afternoon presenters explored the issue in depth, including:
- Dr. Riva Touger-Decker, Professor and Chair of Nutritional Sciences at Rutgers University
Nutrition, Diet, and Oral Diseases -- It Isn't a One-Way Street - Dr. Cristin Kearns, postdoctoral fellow in the UCSF School of Dentistry, and the Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, UCSF School of Medicine
Sugar Industry Manipulation of Research: Implications for Oral Health - Dr. Paula Moynihan, Professor of Nutrition and Oral Health at Newcastle University (UK)
Sugars: Effect on Dental Caries and Global Policy on Intake
A panel discussion with the presenters followed, moderated by Dr. John Greenspan, founding director and emeritus Associate Dean for Global Oral Health. Dr. Greenspan and School of Dentistry Dean John D.B. Featherstone created the Program in Global Health in 2011, and it has grown to become a premiere international gathering focusing on global oral health issues.
The symposium also included presentations from American Dental Association president-elect Dr. Carol Summerhays, and from California Dental Association president Dr. Walter Weber. Emeritus Professor and Founding Executive Director of UCSF Global Health Sciences Dr. Haile Debas provided welcoming comments.
In addition to significant participation from New York University and Boston University, many attendees have returned to the annual event for multiple years, including Dr. Jeffrey W. Hutter, past presenter and Dean of the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine.
Three awards for excellence in Global Oral Health research were presented to conclude the day:
- Maria Orellana, DDS, PhD: UCSF Faculty Award for Achievement in Global Oral Health
- Kjeld Aamodt, DDS: UCSF Resident Award for Achievement in Global Oral Health
- Mona Nejad: UCSF Student Award for Achievement in Global Oral Health
“This was yet another successful and important symposium, and it was so good to see so many joining us from around the country” said Dean Featherstone.
This year's symposium was the first hosted by UCSF Dentistry’s Director of Global Oral Health Dr. Benjamin Chaffee, who assumed his role in June 2014.
Pictured
The 2015 Global Oral Health Symposium
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