What will it take for oral health to be inseparable from whole-person health - in policy, practice, education, and financing?
This convening is designed not only to surface ideas, but to generate aligned commitments across sectors. The content below captures the shared frame for the gathering, the principles guiding the work, and the structure for accountability after participants leave Washington.
Why this convening matters now
Whole-person health care remains an aspiration for too many. Systems are fragmented, care is siloed, and the consequences - in preventable disease, deepened inequity, and avoidable cost - are well documented. Among the most evidence-supported and actionable opportunities to change that is the full recognition of oral health as inseparable from the rest of health care.
This convening brings together diverse organizations, disciplines, and perspectives with a shared conviction: fragmented efforts, however well-intentioned, are no longer sufficient. The scale of the challenge - and the opportunity - demands a networked, coordinated, and sustained commitment to change.
The policy and electoral landscape of 2026 and beyond creates an opening. Decisions made in the next few years will shape the financing, workforce, education, and delivery systems that govern health care for generations to come. We gather at this moment by intention - to align our goals, accelerate what works, and speak with a unified voice to accelerate the change we desire.
The principles that follow are commitments to one another, to the communities who partner with us on this journey, and to the proposition that oral health and whole-person health are finally and permanently inseparable.
The commitments shaping the convening
Oral Health Is Whole-Person Health.
The health of the mouth is inseparable from the health of the body. We recognize oral health as a fundamental determinant of wellbeing, longevity, and health equity - and commit to treating it as such in every domain of our work.
Integration Is Both a Moral Imperative and an Economic Necessity.
Fragmenting health care - excluding oral health from whole-person care - produces preventable disease, deepens inequity, and drives avoidable cost. We are compelled to act by both the evidence and our shared values.
We Speak a Common Language.
Collective action requires shared understanding. We define integration as transforming systems of care through partnerships that enable better coordination across all health services - with the purpose of improving whole-person health, especially for underserved populations and those with chronic and complex needs. Coordination across care settings is a practical reality; our deeper purpose is not coordination for its own sake, but whole-person health as the standard of care.
We Build on What Works - Together.
Successful models of whole-person, coordinated care already exist, and no single organization can scale them alone. We commit to a networked approach that learns from proven innovations, reduces duplication, and creates conditions for collective impact beyond what any of us can accomplish independently.
Policy Enables; Implementation Transforms - and Barriers Must Be Named.
Policy is the foundation, not the finish line. Beyond policy reform, we commit to the hard work of implementation and evaluation. We also commit to engaging obstacles directly - fragmented data systems, misaligned financing, professional siloing, and gaps in provider training and practice - rather than working around them.
People and Communities Are Partners, Not Recipients.
Those most affected by fragmented care must be at the center of how we design, implement, and evaluate solutions. We commit to shared decision-making, community-centered planning, and communication that is accessible and honest - recognizing that lived experience is evidence and is a prerequisite for equity.
Collaboration Requires Sustained Investment.
Genuine partnership demands more than goodwill. We commit to investing in the infrastructure, relationships, and shared accountability that make sustained collaboration possible - recognizing that how we work together is as important as what we set out to achieve.
Each participant leaves with a concrete next step
The Commitment Card gives participants a simple structure for converting discussion into action. It reinforces the event’s emphasis on accountable next steps, named partners, and a clear timeline.
How follow-through is structured after June 24
Collective Action Snapshot
All Commitment Cards compiled; Prototype Registry and cross-sector partnership map distributed to all participants.
30-Day Check-In
60-minute virtual touchpoint. First actions are reported and new connections are made by the Network Weaver.
60-Day Progress Brief
A written update for each focus area is shared with all participants.
90-Day Action Summit
Celebrate early wins, adjust commitments, and welcome new network partners.
Annual Review
The network shows what it built. The next cycle begins.
