Stephens named Pennsylvania Oral Health Champion for national 100 Million Mouths Campaign
Mark Stephens, MD, MS, associate dean for medical education at Penn State College of Medicine’s University Park Regional Campus and professor of family and community medicine, has been named Pennsylvania’s oral health champion for the 100 Million Mouths Campaign, a national initiative led by the Harvard School of Dental Medicine.
The 100 Million Mouths Campaign aims to improve oral health equity by training one oral health education champion in each state to integrate sustainable, equity-driven oral health curricula into health professions education. Over the next decade, the initiative seeks to equip future primary care providers with the knowledge and skills needed to improve the oral health of 100 million people nationwide.
As Pennsylvania’s oral health champion, Dr. Stephens will work with medical, physician assistant, nursing and residency programs to expand oral health education and prevention efforts – particularly in rural and underserved areas where access to dental care is limited. Champions collaborate with state dental directors, public health departments and community-based dental professionals to strengthen connections between primary care and oral health.
“This recognition supports our ongoing efforts to extend oral health education and preventive care to some of the most austere areas of the Commonwealth, where access to services can be especially challenging,” Dr. Stephens said. “By preparing future health care providers to address oral health as part of whole-person care, we can make a meaningful impact on population health.”
Launched in 2020 through the HRSA-funded Center for Integration of Primary Care and Oral Health, the 100 Million Mouths Campaign provides champions with curricular resources, professional networks and funding to support educational innovation. Through this work, Dr. Stephens will help advance Penn State College of Medicine’s commitment to health equity, interprofessional education and improved health outcomes for communities across Pennsylvania.
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