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2023 Virginia General Session Wrap-Up
Virginia’s General Assembly session ended on February 25. However, lawmakers are still negotiating updates to the state budget. The budget is crucial because it funds the agencies and programs that serve Virginians. Virginia Health Catalyst’s budget priorities include: $100,000 in general funds and $100,000 in nongeneral funds to study the costs and benefits of adding…
Read MorePushing Boundaries to Eliminate Disparities: A Black History Month Reflection on Oral Health Champions
Racism drives health inequities and is a public health emergency. Ongoing systemic racism and unequal impacts of the pandemic contribute to many health and health care disparities that adversely impact the overall health and well-being of Black people in America. We’ve seen firsthand, and through the efforts of others (such as here and here), the…
Read MoreH2Outlook Virginia: The Path to Advancing Drinking Water Equity
Drinking water is essential for life, but reliable access to safe, affordable drinking water isn’t a guarantee. More and more, we hear stories about the past and present water crises: from Jackson, MS, or Flint, MI, to the troubling drought in the American West, it’s clear our water systems are in trouble. Without adequate infrastructure,…
Read MoreBridging the Gap Between Patient Experience and Provider Assumptions
A new Impact Story describes a collaborative project that identified a disconnect between patients’ experiences and providers’ assumptions about barriers to dental care, as well as examples of the impact of racism in health care. Patients described a public oral health system that didn’t meet their needs, citing the following as barriers to care: Cost…
Read MoreOral Health Equity Cannot Be Achieved Without Racial Equity
Barriers to achieving good oral and overall health do not stop with access to care. Systemic racism exists within healthcare, is linked to several social determinants of health, and contributes to racial inequities in oral health. Multi-level interventions that focuses on system change to advance racial equity can improve population-level health. This report highlights several…
Read MoreMaking the case for interprofessional education and practice collaboration to address rising rates of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancers
Cancers caused by the humanpapilloma virus (HPV) on the tongue, tonsils, mouth, and throat are rising in the US, particularly among males. The HPV vaccine, usually given to adolescents, is effective at preventing oral cancers caused by HPV. Dental professionals have an opportunity to educate patients and encourage the HPV vaccine to prevent these cancers.…
Read MoreWe’re Hiring!
Program Manager Virginia Health Catalyst (www.vahealthcatalyst.org) strives to ensure all Virginians have equitable access to comprehensive health care that includes oral health. Catalyst seeks an experienced Program Manager to lead the data initiatives of our growing portfolio of collaborative, health-saving initiatives; this is a full-time, grant-funded position. Specific responsibilities and job requirements are listed below.…
Read More“Pandemics, Policing, and Protest: On Racism & Health” Rhea Boyd, MD Keynote Presentation – 2020 Virginia Oral Health Summit
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Read MoreVirginia aims to declare water a human right
California is the only state in the country with a human right to water enshrined in law that guarantees affordable access to water. Virginia could soon become the second state. On January 26, the Virginia House of Delegates approved House Joint Resolution 538 that recognizes “access to clean, potable, and affordable water is a necessary human right.” There is…
Read MoreWhy I Apply Fluoride Varnish in my Practice
As a family physician, I have the unique opportunity of caring for my patients from childhood through adulthood. This means I see firsthand the positive impact early oral health habits can have on a person’s life, from a healthier childhood smile, to a healthier adulthood. Over the years we have learned that oral health impact…
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