Waletha
Wasson,
BS, MPA, MS, DDS, MAGD (AGD Emeritus)
Program Director: A 21st Century Initiative - Oral-Systemic and Population-Based Health For All
University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry
Dr. Waletha Wasson, B.S., D.D.S., M.P.A., M.S., M.A.G.D. (A.G.D. Emeritus) is the Program Director: A 21st Century Initiative ― Oral-Systemic and Population-Based Health for All (A 21st COSP) at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Dentistry. Dr. Wasson has >41 years of health care experience with nine years as a staff dentist at Memphis Health Center (MHC), Inc. and >30 years at UTHSC College of Dentistry. Dr. Wasson’s experiences at MHC were her inspiration to teach students about diversity, disparities, cultural competency, and community engagement. Dr. Wasson’s three pillars of academic responsibilities consist of teaching, scholarly activity, and public service. She has obtained tenure and promotion to full-rank professor. Dr. Wasson has received numerous awards and honors.
Presenting at the Nexus Summit:
Anyone who has ever lived through a toothache and/or painful gums or has had a family member with similar oral health complaints understands that the level of dental care received can significantly impact one's oral-systemic and oral-mental health outcomes. Conversely, mental and systemic health issues can have a significant impact on one's oral health as well. Significantly, oral health is intertwined and/or bidirectional with systemic and mental health. The oral-systemic and oral-mental interconnectedness is often overlooked within the Quadruple Aim for oral value-based care by healthcare…