title: Today's threat is tomorrow's crisis: advocating for dental education, dental and biomedical research, and oral health.
abstract: The current political environment in the nation's capital threatens federal support for programs vital to the academic dental community. To develop a strong cadre of advocates who can deliver an effective and unified message to members of Congress on behalf of dental education and dental research, the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) and the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) created a new organizational structure: the National Oral Health Advocacy Committee (NOHAC) and the National Advocacy Network (NAN). The basic skills and knowledge required to function as an effective advocate include an understanding of the political environment, a working knowledge of the legislative processes and the political players, and the ability to build and work with grassroots networks and coalitions. NOHAC and NAN are designed to provide leadership in these areas to support effective advocacy for dental education and dental research.
authors.affiliation: American Dental Education Association, 1400 K Street, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005, USA. BreschJ@ADEA.org
authors.forename: Jack E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bresch
authors.forename: Gina G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Luke
authors.forename: Monette D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: McKinnon
authors.forename: Myla J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: Daryl
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pritchard
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Valachovic
mesh_terms: D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. / Q000191:economics; D018865:Dental Research / Q000191:economics*; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000191:economics*; D005380:Financing, Government; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008119:Lobbying; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.) / Q000191:economics; D012109:Research Support as Topic; D012953:Societies, Dental / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014146:Training Support; D014481:United States