Greetings from AAPHD’s Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Committee!

AAPHD continues its journey to support an anti-racist future for oral health with the establishment of an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee. Many years ago, before equity, diversity, and inclusion were trending concepts, AAPHD had a committee that elevated diversity in the organization. In August 2023, the AAPHD Board approved the EDI as a standing committee, thanks to the leadership of AAPHD Past President Dr. Nadia Laniado.

The charge of the EDI committee is to ​​embed and maintain equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice-building practices into the culture and operations of AAPHD. We aim to strive for an organizational culture that fosters equity in members’ voice and sense of belonging, and to support AAPHD members to actively incorporate equity-focused activities in their own work. To do this, we will collaborate across the councils and committees and with AAPHD members to continue the organization’s commitment to anti-racism and countering other forms of oppression in oral health. 

Our strategic activities for this coming year include an organizational needs assessment focused on EDI and belonging, as well as sharing resources and perspectives on EDI-related topics via a monthly “EDI Corner” via Communiquik, as well as on our website. 

If you have thoughts or suggestions about the work of this committee, please reach out to a committee member or to AAPHD staff at [email protected].

AAPHD reaffirms and maintains its commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice-building practices

At this time, when efforts to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion are being targeted, cut, and misrepresented, AAPHD reaffirms that these principles are essential to our mission, policies, and practices. We remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment for our members and the general public. We see and value the critically important work that AAPHD members do in their daily lives to promote oral health equity, improve diversity and inclusion in professional spaces, and pursue justice in the social factors that influence oral health. AAPHD will continue its work to collaborate across the councils, committees, board, and AAPHD membership to continue the organization’s commitment to countering all forms of oppression in pursuit of optimal and equitable oral health. 

AAPHD has been, and will continue to be, committed to the following core values:

AAPHD values the diversity of life experiences, perspectives, and worldviews.
AAPHD will be an agent for change as part of the Dental Public Health community.
AAPHD is open to receiving feedback if its actions are not in alignment with the value of promoting dignity and respect for others.
AAPHD welcomes dialogue and critical conversations.
AAPHD values the humanity of others and pledges to stand with fellow associations when the value of others is not fostered.
AAPHD is committed to regular audits of policies and practices to ensure they align with our values of equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice.

As part of service to the committee, members have committed to the following value statements1:

  • I value diversity of life experiences, perspectives, and worldviews.
  • I will be an agent for change as part of the Dental Public Health community.
  • I will examine my own biases and beliefs and embrace the discomfort of this important work.
  • I am open to receiving feedback when my biases and beliefs are not in alignment with the value of promoting dignity and respect for others.
  • I will promote dialogue and have critical conversations.
  • I will listen first, acknowledge my peers, and be empathetic to viewpoints different from my own.
  • I will assume good intentions but also acknowledge the impact of saying or doing something that hurts someone else, even if it is unintended.
  • I value the humanity of others and pledge to stand with others when the value of others is not fostered.
  • I will be courageous in the face of adversity, willing to confront and challenge controversial issues.

1Adapted from the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Charter at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

EDI Corner

Through the volunteer efforts of the AAPHD EDI Committee and other AAPHD member volunteers, the EDI Committee offers a monthly "EDI Corner" with helpful resources and perspectives on EDI-related topics.