For Immediate Release: March 22, 2019
Contact: Molly Delahunty
786-414-1292
[email protected]

WHAT:            Catalyst Miami and Miami-Dade Oral Health Network Partners to host the 4th Annual Oral Health Equity Summit on March 29, 2019. We invite members of the community to examine the current state of oral health in terms of health equity in our County, and to share and receive information regarding existing programs and policy initiatives to increase access and equity in oral care.

WHO:             Catalyst Miami and members of the Miami Dade Oral Health Network, in partnership with the City of Miami Gardens and the Live Healthy initiative.

Speakers include:

• • • Chelsie Purcell, M.P.H., Jessie Trice Community Center
    • Adriana Torres, M.S., FIU Neighborhood HELP program
    • Norma Subadan, Community Health of South Florida, Inc.
    • Maybell Perez, University of Florida Hialeah Dental Center
    • Audrey P. Miller, PhD, MSN Ed, APRN, PPCNP-BC, FIU Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences
    • Claudia A. Serna, PhD, DDS, MPH, MCHES, CPH, NOVA Southeastern University - Dr. Kiran C. Patel of Osteopathic Medicine
    • Miriam Harmatz, J.D., Florida Health Justice Project, Inc.
    • Zelalem Adefris, M.P.H., Catalyst Miami
    • Kristin Palbicke Garces, M.P.H., Florida Institute for Health Innovation

WHEN:           Friday, March 29, 2019, 3:30 - 6:30pm

WHERE:       Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex (3000 NW 199th Street, Miami Gardens, FL 33056)

WHY: To improve awareness that oral health is critical to overall health. The summit’s goals are to:

• • • Examine the intersectionality of oral health, social justice, and community advocacy
    • Identify available resources for comprehensive oral health programs in our communities
    • Develop strategies that yield policy and systems change to address existing disparities and inequalities in oral health

According to the U.S. News and World Report (2019) Florida ranks 48 out of 50 states in terms of overall healthcare access. Children and adolescents from low-income families have approximately two times or greater the rates of tooth decay than children from higher-income families. Other specific groups also lack access to proper oral healthcare coverage, including seniors, people with disabilities, and Medicaid and CHIP recipients, due to a shortage of dental care providers who accept public insurance plans.

Admission for the summit is free. Refreshments and childcare provided. Registration and more info can be found at bit.ly/ohesummit.

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About MDOHN
The Miami-Dade Oral Health Network (MDOHN) is a community centered grassroots initiative committed to improving oral health through education, assessment, policy/program development, and collaboration. MDOHN promotes cooperation, communication, and concerted action among community residents and organizations dedicated to eliminating oral health disparities.

About Catalyst Miami
Catalyst Miami believes everyone deserves a healthy and financially secure life; currently, two in three families in Miami don’t have enough savings to weather a financial emergency of any kind. For over 20 years, Catalyst Miami has committed to empowering residents to build better futures by providing family economic security programs, developing leadership and civic engagement, and building coalitions to address poverty. More detailed information about all their programs can be found on their website (catalystmiami.org).