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NYU College of Dentistry

Domains: Curriculum & Programming; Students & Faculty 

The Power of Policy: How NYU Dental is Reshaping Healthcare Advocacy

NYU College of Dentistry’s Center for Oral Health Policy and Management, established in 2021, demonstrates an innovative approach to addressing healthcare disparities through policy education and advocacy. The Center acknowledges critical gaps in dental care access, noting that Black and Hispanic Americans face nearly double the rate of untreated cavities compared to White Americans.

Through its Student Leadership Institute, the Center prepares future dental leaders, prioritizing recruitment from disadvantaged backgrounds. The program is strengthened by the Center’s Health Services Research Database, which leverages patient data from NYU’s citywide dental clinics to inform policy solutions.

The flagship Global Health Care Leaders program exemplifies the Center’s commitment to advocacy training. Students participate in workshops at NYU’s Washington, DC campus and engage directly with federal lawmakers on Capitol Hill to advocate for dental research and healthcare equity. The program has expanded to include international policy perspectives through NYU’s centers in Florence and Prague. 

“Being able to hear the other person and then create your own understanding based on their perspective is so important, because it’s not just us, it’s all of us.” 

Student reflection

The Center also leads critical discussions on diversity in dental education through its public platform. In response to the 2023 Supreme Court ruling on college admissions, the Center highlighted persistent representation gaps, with Black and Hispanic students comprising only 6.4% and 10.1% of 2022 dental school enrollees respectively. The Center advocates for concrete solutions, including reduced education costs and enhanced community engagement to achieve greater workforce diversity.

Through this comprehensive approach, NYU Dental envisions creating a fundamental shift in oral healthcare delivery and access. The ultimate goal is to develop a new generation of dental leaders who will not only provide excellent clinical care but also actively work to eliminate barriers to care—whether they stem from financial limitations, lack of insurance, or gaps in oral health literacy. By combining policy expertise with a deep commitment to equity, NYU aims to transform dental education from a purely clinical pursuit into a powerful tool for social change and healthcare justice.

Case study developed by Sadiyah Anderson.

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