I always recommend NNOHA to anyone working in the dental industry. At the NNOHA 2023 annual conference, there was an announcement made about NNOHA ambassadors and my wife looked at me and said, aren’t you already doing that? NNOHA is an amazing group of compassionate, likeminded, and welcoming individuals and I want to share that experience with those who have not yet experienced it.

Becoming an NNOHA ambassador is exciting and rewarding because there is much joy in disseminating the amazing work NNOHA offers for leaders in community clinics. NNOHA’s growth is assisted by its ambassadors, and I look forward to contributing to membership expansion.

It is an honor to be an ambassador for my home state of Colorado. My goals as an ambassador will be to increase awareness to NNOHA to not only our community health dental professionals in the state but to dental/hygiene students who are the future of our profession. I didn’t understand the full scope of the incredible need for oral health access for underserved populations until, in 2019, I attended my first NNOHA conference. My outlook and motivation for my future in public health dentistry took a 180 degree turn. The training, networking, vision, and people who are a part of NNOHA is why my passion to support this organization grows year after year.

I have devoted my career to advocate for equitable oral health access for all. As a foreign-trained dentist from Venezuela and a dental public health leader, I understand the importance of being a NNOHA Ambassador. Linking underserved populations to oral health resources is what NNOHA does best. While attending a NNOHA conference, I had the opportunity to be surrounded with like-minded people committed to purpose- oriented ideals that elevate and saves lives… because teeth matter! My dream of pursing my degree in dental public health was because of NNOHA. So, now is time to give back what they once gave me. I’m happy to serve as an Ambassador in my state and be the voice to help close the gap in access to dental care services.

I have worked for oral health equity my entire career in Louisiana. NNOHA is an outstanding group of passionate, like minded, dedicated professionals that has inspired me. I believe that we will be able to improve oral health in my state by increasing membership. I am in a great position as the oral heath lead for the primary care association to inform others about the incredible programs and resources NNOHA offers.

I am excited to become an NNOHA ambassador for Massachusetts and share this amazing organization across community health centers in our state. NNOHA has not only provided me with invaluable resources but also facilitated connections with fellow PCA oral health colleagues through the POHC, creating a supportive environment where we can network and grow together. I am eager to become a NNOHA ambassador to share the incredible resources they have to offer.

I am grateful to be a NNOHA Ambassador because I get to help with the expansion of an organization that supports so many oral health professionals dedicated to serving unique, diverse communities. NNOHA offers a place where like-minded, mission driven individuals gather to learn from one another. When we better one another in this way, we expand access to oral health care and improve the quality of care for our patients.

Fifteen years ago, I was lost trying to learn about FQHCs and their role in public health. As a Chief Dental Officer, I needed help. I attended my first NNOHA conference and was immediately at ease knowing that I had so much support and education at my fingertips. Fast forward 15 years later, I have become the primary lead for NYS PCA and a member of the DOH Public Health Committee. This is all because of what I have learned from the NNOHA conferences and their continuing education. I now have the opportunity to help those by being an Ambassador and I am looking forward to it! Giving back to the community is what started NNOHA, and I am so very happy to be a part of it.

I'm ecstatic for the opportunity to be a NNOHA ambassador in the hopes of educating more dental students about the opportunities and advantages of having a dental career in the community health center setting and debunking any preconceived notions or misconceptions that dental students have about this practice modality. Not only is a community health center setting truly rewarding, but it addresses a lot of the concerns that new dental graduates have today, such as student loan repayment. I also welcome the opportunity to connect with other dental directors in New York to help connect them to needed resources, enhance their sense of collaboration and community as a NNOHA member, and create a strong network of dental directors in New York State.

I am honored to serve as the NNOHA ambassador for North Carolina. Before becoming an "official" ambassador, I constantly shared NNOHA's benefits and resources with my colleagues and friends who have a passion for increasing equity and access to oral health care for underserved populations. The best part of my role is inviting oral health advocates to join me for the NNOHA Annual Conference each year and seeing them experience a week full of learning, along with getting to network with so many amazing members who truly care about opening the doors to access to oral health care. It makes my heart happy!

NNOHA has helped me grow professionally. It is a safe space to ask questions and get answers from others across the nation. Completing the NOHLI cohort gave me the confidence that I need to take on a role at a large health center. I am enjoying my job and I credit NNOHA with giving me the knowledge and the confidence to do so. I am excited to be an Ambassador and encourage other folks who may feel in a similar way as I did and encourage Health Centers to be part of the NNOHA family.

I am thrilled to be the South Dakota ambassador because it allows me to further advocate for the specific needs of the communities I serve, while also giving me the opportunity to foster relationships with those in other states. I look forward to being able to further participate and promote collaborative initiatives through NNOHA. And I hope to continue positively impacting my patients and providing support to others on innovative solutions.

I am excited to become a NNOHA ambassador because to know NNOHA is to love NNOHA! I was made aware of all the NNOHA joy, benefits, and family by a beloved mentor of mine a few years ago and I want to do more of the same for others to be so blessed.

My role in the safety-net health system has evolved from being a patient, to a dental assistant, to a new dentist, and now a Dental Director. NNOHA has been a guiding light for my values and vision as a dentist in public health. As a new Dental Director, I would be lost without the resources and friendships provided by NNOHA. I’m so excited to represent my state and region as a NNOHA Ambassador. I hope to share my insights with NNOHA leadership too but also work with other dental professionals in my area to promote oral health equity for all!

I am excited to join the NNOHA Ambassador Program and act a representative of the organization in my communities. NNOHA remains a driving force in my professional career, connecting me with a broad network of mission driven, community focused oral health professionals. The resources and network NNOHA brings me is invaluable. I hope to bring this mission to others as we continue to strive to achieve equitable oral health and overall health care through best practices and collaborative learning.

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