Marcia Brand, PhD, to lead Interprofessional Oral Health Initiative

Marcia Brand, PhD, completed more than 20 years of service for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the US Department of Health and Human Services, where she serves as Deputy Administrator since 2009.  Marcia is credited with bringing exceptional leadership, organizational skills, commitment to quality and common sense to her work.  Mary Wakefield, PhD, RN, HRSA Administrator, praised Marcia for being a “tireless champion” for oral health, leading efforts to better integrate oral health care and primary care as well as for being a “fierce supporter” of better health care in rural communities. Dr. Wakefield also noted Dr. Brand’s ability to work across boundaries, beyond HRSA’s programs, in order to encourage contributions of others.

On April 1, 2015, Marcia will assume executive leadership of the National Interprofessional Initiative on Oral Health (www.niioh.org), succeeding Tracy Garland.

Ralph Fuccillo, President of the DentaQuest Foundation and co-funder of the Interprofessional Initiative on Oral Health, comments: “Marcia’s inspirational leadership and deep passion for improving oral health will greatly benefit the Initiative. As we acknowledge the great work of Tracy Garland to start, develop and lead the Interprofessional Initiative since 2009 and welcome Marcia as its new leader, I have confidence that the Initiative will continue to be successful in advancing the “IP” approach to oral health. Children and adults with avoidable dental problems will be better off.”

Laura Smith, President and CEO of Washington Dental Service Foundation, a co-funder of the Interprofessional Initiative, adds: “Engaging oral health champions in primary care medical and in dentistry, supporting their work and weaving it all together is what the NIIOH has been recognized for having accomplished thus far .  Marcia’s capacity to engage and inspire others and to cross boundaries effectively will be tapped as she transitions to this new role and will provide for continuity in the kind of leadership that is required when advancing a new approach. I am very pleased that Marcia will be joining this great network of funders and health professionals.”

Judith Haber, Executive Director of the Oral Health Nursing Education and Practice (OHNEP) program, the Nursing arm of the National Interprofessional Initiative on Oral Health (NIIOH) and the HRSA-funded Teaching Oral Systemic Health (TOSH) programs, said: “I am delighted about the appointment of Dr. Marcia Brand as the new Executive Director of the NIIOH. Her longstanding commitment to advancing a national interprofessional oral health agenda makes her a perfect choice to continue growing the enormous momentum gained by NIIOH over the past five years.  As Deputy Administrator at HRSA, her leadership was instrumental in accomplishing the interprofessional oral health outcomes to date and yet to come!  I cannot think of a more appropriate person to succeed the amazing NIIOH founding Leader, Tracy Garland.”

About NIIOH

Founded in 2009, the National Interprofessional Initiative on Oral Health (www.niioh.org) is a consortium of funders and health professionals whose vision is that dental disease can be eradicated. The mission of the Interprofessional Initiative is to engage primary care clinicians to be alert to their patients’ oral health needs, ready and willing to deliver oral health preventive services to patients of all ages, effective at partnering with dental specialists, and able to learn from, with and about each other. The NIIOH received the 2014 Special Recognition Award from the Shils Entrepreneurial Fund for its work establishing a new norm of effective collaboration across the health professions. The activities of the Interprofessional Initiative are made possible as a result of funding from The DentaQuest Foundation, the Washington Dental Service Foundation and the REACH Healthcare Foundation. For more information, please visit http://www.niioh.org/.