Advocacy plays an important role in the dental profession, and resident dentists at the West Virginia University School of Dentistry have the opportunity to get involved with several efforts throughout their education. Trainees in the pediatric dentistry residency program took their efforts to Washington, D.C., for the national Pediatric Oral Health Advocacy Conference (POHAC) in March.
Hosted by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, second-year residents from WVU were joined by 400 participants from 64 programs across the country during the four-day event, March 7-10, in the nation’s capital. The residents were the first individuals to represent the state of West Virginia during the annual event.
Members of the School who attended the conference were resident dentists Dr. Brianna Bevil, Dr. Branson Martin and Dr. Erin Miller and Assistant Professor Dr. Dami Kim.
During their visit, the WVU dentists participated in congressional visits with staff from the offices of Sen. Jim Justice and Rep. Riley Moore and a meet and greet with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito.
The conference provided the opportunity for participants to advocate for current issues impacting children’s oral health and the future of pediatric dentistry, inspire support for key priorities in patient care and dental education, and network with peers.
The WVU School of Dentistry pediatric dentistry residency program is the state’s first and only advanced education program in pediatric dentistry. The residency provides dentists with in-depth knowledge and skills in all aspects of pediatric dentistry practice in both private and hospital settings and to encourage lifelong learning to contribute to the advancement of the profession.
To learn more, visit go.wvu.edu/PediatricDentistryResidency.
Photo at Top: Members of the WVU School of Dentistry pediatric dentistry residency program – (left to right) Dr. Erin Miller, Dr. Branson Martin, Dr. Brianna Bevil and Dr. Dami Kim – visit with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito during the annual American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Pediatric Oral Health Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C.
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jw/4/20/26
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