Dr. Christopher Okunseri, professor and director of the predoctoral program for dental public health at the School of Dentistry, has been named president of the American Board of Dental Public Health.
“We are proud of the work Dr. Okunseri has done in the field of public health dentistry,” said Dr. William Lobb, dean of the School of Dentistry. “He has served the ABDPH well during his time on the board of directors, and the organization will be in good hands under his leadership. His dedication to promoting good dental health and providing access to dental care is a great example for our students at Marquette School of Dentistry.”
Okunseri began his term at the annual meeting of diplomates in May and will serve for one year in this role. He previously served as vice president, secretary-treasurer and director after being chosen as ABDPH’s director-elect in 2015. His current research interests include epidemiology of oral conditions, quality of care, behavioral science, health services research, preventive care services and oral health policy with emphasis on the underserved and racial and ethnic minority populations.
The American Board of Dental Public Health has been designated as the national examining and certifying board for the specialty of dental public health by the House of Delegates of the American Dental Association since 1951. The purpose of the board is to create standards for the practice of dental public health and serve as the granting body of certificates for dental public health.
Founded in 1937, the American Association of Public Health Dentistry has provided a focus for meeting the challenge to improve oral health. As the sponsoring organization for the American Board of Dental Public Health, AAPHD’s mission is to provide leadership in ensuring optimal oral health for individuals and communities.