Jayanth V. Kumar, DDS, MPH will serve as California's new state dental director. The announcement, made by Gov. Jerry Brown, comes after years of the California Dental Association advocating for a state dental director.
Here are five things to know:
1. Dr. Kumar has over 25 years of experience in the New York State Bureau of Dental Health, where he served as director of oral health surveillance and research and as director of the New York State Dental Public Health Residency.
2. Dr. Kumar developed the first comprehensive state oral health plan for New York.
3. Dr. Kumar will direct and mange the oral health program in the California Department of Public Health and will lead strategies to reduce oral health disparities in California, according to CDPH.
4. In addition, Dr. Kumar will be responsible for establishing prevention and oral health education projects.
5 Part of Dr. Kumar's duties will also include securing funding for prevention-based oral health programs, particularly for children.
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