Page 17 - The Indian EYE 021723

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline FEBRUARY 17, 2023 | The Indian Eye 17

Dr Kavitha Das wins DentaQuest Award for 2022

OUR BUREAU and in research.
She leads a health equity-focused communi-
New York, NY
ty-based organization to implement programs to
r. Kavitha P. Das is one of the winners of have equitable access to care. Her goal is to change
the national DentaQuest award for 2022. the inevitability of chronic diseases (diabetes,
DShe was selected from a national pool of heart disease, oral diseases, and oral cancer) for
outstanding candidates to be awarded this presti- children and families with a focus on prevention.
gious award. She has worked as a health disruptor Das leads unique research projects, public
in the health system for 15 years and focused on health policy, works with key stakeholders such
interdisciplinary research which can lead to equi- as academics, school and community leaders,
table access to care and focused on oral-systemic and clergy groups to highlight the opportunity for
health connections. change, align on what can be done, and create an
For this award, DentaQuest selected for- action plan that builds trust and engagement with-
ward-thinking agents of change, and they created in the community.
the national Health Equity Hero program eight DentaQuest manages dental and vision ben-
years ago to celebrate individuals and organiza- efits for 30 million Americans and provides care
tions responsible for extraordinary work that cham- directly through a national network of clinics.
pions equitable access to health care (medical, oral Their mission is to improve oral health for all
health, behavioral health) and optimal overall Americans, to make it more affordable and easier
health outcomes. Health heroes taking action to (Left to Right): Dr. Kavitha P. Das, Senior Director of to have equitable access to care with an emphasis
transform health systems in their communities in Research, Ms. Bose Akamiokhor from DentaQuest, on prevention. They use a multi-pronged approach
an effort to remedy long-standing disparities. and Mr. Danilo Parmegiani · Executive Director of Legion of to revolutionize oral health in ways that make the
Dr. Das is a dentist who is an interdisciplin- Good Will in the USA and UN/NGO representative community healthier.
ary health researcher, academic, and healthcare They understand how to align incentives to
innovator. She has been working in the space of position to a number of chronic diseases that have drive better outcomes and lower costs. They have
increasing access to care with diverse communities lifetime consequences. She has worked at Colum- provided more than $230 million in funding for re-
to improve the health and well-being of residents bia University, NYU, Yale University, and Icahn search and grant programs to advance oral health
of diverse urban communities which have a predis- School of Medicine at Mount Sinai as an academic in communities across the country.

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