Recent News & Breakthroughs
Read the latest news stories from the Santa Fe Group, its programs and partners.
Dr. Judi E. Haber Named 2025 AAN Living Legend
Santa Fe Group Board Member Dr. Judi Haber has been honored as a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing, one of the highest distinctions in the nursing profession. […]
Dr. Nader Nadershahi Joins the American Dental Association
The Santa Fe Group proudly celebrates board member Dr. Nader A. Nadershahi on his new appointment as Senior Vice President of Education/Professional Affairs at the American Dental Association. With decades […]
If We Treated Tooth Decay Like We Treat Heart Disease, We’d Save Billions
In a recently published MedCity News article, Dr. Terri Dolan asks a critical question: What If We Treated Tooth Decay Like Heart Disease? Drawing attention to the separation of dental […]
Projected Outcomes of Removing Fluoride From US Public Water Systems
In a May 2025 article published in JAMA Health Forum, Santa Fe Group board member Dr. Lisa Simon and Dr. Sung Eun Choi examine the potential consequences of removing fluoride […]
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SFG’s Statement: Community Water Fluoridation Prevents Tooth Decay Throughout the Life Span
The Santa Fe Group (SFG) is deeply concerned about the announced intentions of the Administration to stop recommending community water fluoridation and the resulting long term impact on the United […]
Dr. Wendy Mouradian Honored with UW Dean’s Club Honorary Lifetime Award
On May 3, 2025, our esteemed emeritus member, Dr. Wendy Mouradian, received the 2025 Dean’s Club Honorary Lifetime Award from the University of Washington School of Dentistry. The award was […]
Honoring a Public Health Pioneer: Dushanka Kleinman Receives Distinguished Terrapin Award
On April 17, 2025, the University of Maryland School of Public Health honored Dr. Dushanka Kleinman with the Distinguished Terrapin Award during its Dean’s Recognition Ceremony at the Samuel Riggs […]
SFG’s Statement: Oral Health Keeps America Healthy
The Santa Fe Group strongly supports the opportunity to keep America healthy. We are alarmed by recent decisions that undermine decades of progress in oral health. The U.S. Department of Health and […]
Recent To visit our COHP Initiative Hub, click here.
All Veterans Deserve Comprehensive Dental Care
The Coalition for Oral Health Policy (COHP), an initiative of the Santa Fe Group, is proud to share a new policy statement published in Health Affairs Forefront: All Veterans Deserve […]
WEF Article | Investing in Oral Health: Here’s Why the Time is Now
Almost half the world’s population – 3.5 billion people – are impacted by oral diseases that not only imperil their ability to eat or speak but also put them at […]
Recent To visit our Dental- Medical Integration Initiative Hub, click here.
Canada Expands National Dental Care Plan: A Model for Equitable Access to Oral Health
As of May 1, 2025, the Government of Canada has expanded its publicly funded dental care program to include adults aged 55 to 64. This marks a major step in […]
Santa Fe Group Supports Dr. Solomon Brotman’s Proposals to the ADA Code Maintenance Committee
The Santa Fe Group has submitted a letter of support for Dr. Solomon G. Brotman’s proposed code changes to the American Dental Association’s (ADA) Code Maintenance Committee (CMC). These proposals, […]
White Paper on Minimally Invasive Dental Care
Championing Minimally Invasive Care: Aligning Advocacy to Transform Oral Health The Minimally Invasive Care Advocacy white paper advocates for a shift in dental care practices toward more preventive, patient-centered, and […]
Improving Veterans’ Oral Health: A Commitment to Service
Dr. Rick Valachovic, DMD, EdD, sheds light on the significant strides being made in veterans’ oral health care, highlighting both the challenges and the progress being made at NYU Dentistry. […]
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World AIDS Day and the Importance of Oral Health: A Vital Connection to Overall Wellbeing
Every year on December 1st, the world comes together to observe World AIDS Day, a global initiative to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, remember those lost to the disease, and support […]
World Diabetes Day
World Diabetes Day is a global campaign that reaches over one billion people in over 160 countries. It is marked every year on 14 November, the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, […]
Breast Cancer Awareness
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an international health campaign that’s held every October. The month aims to promote screening and prevention of the disease, which affects 2.3 million women worldwide. […]
International Podcast Day
In 2014, National Podcast Day was celebrated and after quickly realizing the power of podcasts internationally, it was rebranded into what it is today: International Podcast Day, celebrated every year […]
Recent To visit our Health Equity Initiative Hub, click here.
Indigenous Peoples Day & Oral Health
Indigenous Peoples Day, celebrated on the second Monday of October, has its origins as a response to Columbus Day. The first official celebration occurred in 1992, coinciding with the 500th […]
Hispanic Heritage Month
Latinas and Latinos have always held significant roles throughout our country’s history, dating all the way back to the American Revolution. Hispanic Heritage Month is important because it provides an […]
HHS & CMS News | August 2024
August 1, 2024 — HHS Finalizes New Policies to Support Underserved Communities, Mitigate Drug Shortages, and Promote Patient Safety in Hospitals New Mandatory Model to Improve Health Outcomes Post-Surgery and […]
Quality Oral Health for the LGBTQ+ Population
Many LGBTQ+ individuals face health disparities linked to societal stigma and discrimination that equate to a denial of their civil and human rights. Identified as a “health disparity population,” this […]
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ADEAGies Foundation® Announces Recipients of the Gies Award for Eminence in Innovation, Gies Award for Eminence in Vision and Leadership and the Gies Award for Eminence in Achievement
The ADEAGies Foundation Gies Awards highlight the significant contributions of individuals, institutions and public/private partners whose work represents the highest order of Innovation, Achievement, Vision and Leadership. The honorees were chosen by […]
The new US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Oral Health Director was announced: Dr. Gina Thornton-Evans
Dr. Gina Thornton-Evans, D.D.S., M.P.H., was recently appointed as the director of the Division of Oral Health (DOH) in CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. In […]
Proceedings of a Workshop | Whole-Person Oral Health Education
In February 2024, the National Academies Global Forum on Innovation in Health Professional Education co-hosted a public workshop with Penn Dental Medicine to explore value proposition for oral health promotion and disease […]
CMS Cross Cutting Initiative: Oral Health
As part of the CMS Strategic Plan, the Oral Health Cross-Cutting Initiative (CCI), led by the CMS Chief Dental Officer, Natalia I. Chalmers, DDS, MHSc, PhD, seeks to achieve equal […]
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2025 SFG Annual Business Meeting: Pre-Reading Materials
February 2–4, 2025, Sarasota, Florida As we prepare for our upcoming 2025 Annual Business Meeting, we’ve compiled the essential pre-reading materials to help set the stage for our discussions. These […]
Recent To visit our Medicare Initiative Hub, click here.
Public Statement on Medicare Coverage of Medically Necessary Oral and Dental Health Therapies
The Santa Fe Group is one of over 250 signatories of a collaborative statement advocating for the integration of oral health into diabetes care. This initiative underscores the critical link […]
The Santa Fe Group Submits their Comments to the CMS on the CY 2025 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
On September 9, 2024, the Santa Fe Group submitted their comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the proposals and request for information on Medicare Parts […]
The Consortium Commends Regulatory Proposal
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing to further clarify Medicare payment, extending access to medically necessary oral care services to Medicare beneficiaries with End Stage Renal […]
HHS Proposes Physician Payment Rule to Drive Whole-Person Care and Improve Health Quality for All Individuals with Medicare
On July 10, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), proposed new policies in the calendar year (CY) […]
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Dental Hygiene Month
National Dental Hygiene Month is observed every October to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene. It aims to promote the benefits of regular dental check-ups, proper […]
August is National Wellness Month
August is National Wellness Month. It encourages individuals to incorporate healthy routines into their daily lives. One aspect of wellness that often goes unnoticed is oral health. Our oral health […]
National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness & Prevention Month
July is National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness & Prevention Month (NCCAPM). Cleft and craniofacial conditions affect thousands of infants, children, teens and adults in the United States each year. Some […]
June: Men’s Health
Men’s Health Week, celebrated this year from June 10 – 16, honors the importance of the health and wellness of boys and men. It was created by Congress in 1994 […]
