California State Dental Director visits The Health Trust

Dr. Kumar Group portrait
From left to right: Representatives from our oral health partners, Sylvia Arenas, Katherine Oven, Jolene Smith, Magdelena Carrasco, Jim Cunneen, Marjorie Stocks, Dr. Jay Kumar, Ragan Henninger, Dr. Sara Cody, Francois Rodigari, Leslie Rodriguez, Frederick Ferrer met to discuss oral health in Santa Clara County, Oct 9.

Improving the oral health of residents, especially children, throughout Silicon Valley has been of the utmost importance to The Health Trust and its oral health partners. Making future advancements in this valley became more hopeful with the Governor’s appointment of Dr. Jay Kumar as the first ever California State Dental Director.

We were honored that on October 9, 2015, Dr. Kumar came to San Jose to meet with The Health Trust and its oral health partners. In attendance were our partners from: San Jose City Council District 5, San Jose Water Company, San Jose Mayor’s office, PACT, California Dental Association Foundation, California Strategies, FIRST 5 Santa Clara County, County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors District 2, Public Health Department, and Santa Clara Valley Water District.

The visit included a tour of The Health Trust Children’s Dental Center in San Jose, and a meeting covering the current state of pediatric oral health in our valley, water fluoridation, and our efforts in oral health education and screening. We hope this meeting is the start of a long and successful partnership with the State and our new State Dental Director to advance the oral health of our community.