Santa Fe Group

Equity, opportunity, and inclusion are essential to improving health and oral health outcomes for all communities.

At the Santa Fe Group, we remain committed to fostering collaboration that helps improve access to care and reduce disparities as we work toward a future where oral health is fully integrated into overall health.

On Juneteenth, we honor the resilience, achievements, and contributions of Black Americans throughout our nation's history and recognize the leaders, advocates, educators, researchers, and healthcare professionals whose work continues to strengthen our communities.

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and serves as a reminder of the ongoing pursuit of opportunity, equity, and justice.

June provides an opportunity to recognize the important role oral health plays in overall health and well-being across the lifespan.

This month’s observances, including Men’s Health Month, Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, Father’s Day, and World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, remind us of the connections between oral health, healthy aging, chronic disease prevention, quality of life, and access to care.

As research continues to strengthen our understanding of the links between oral health and systemic health, collaboration across disciplines remains essential to improving health outcomes for individuals and communities.

🔗 Read more:
https://santafegroup.org/news/health/june-advancing-oral-health-across-the-lifespan/

🔗 Explore our latest newsletter resources:
https://santafegroup.org/june3-2026.html

The Santa Fe Group mourns the passing of Dr. Wendy Mouradian, a cherished member, Emeritus member, colleague, mentor, and friend whose impact on oral health, health integration, and countless lives will endure for generations.

Wendy dedicated her career to advancing children's oral health, interdisciplinary education, and the integration of oral health into overall health care. She inspired those around her through her intellect, generosity, creativity, and unwavering commitment to improving the health and well-being of others.

As Santa Fe Group President Dr. Dushanka Kleinman reflected, Wendy was "the ultimate connector among sectors, disciplines and specialties." She led with grace, enthusiasm, creativity, and determination, leaving a lasting impression on all who had the privilege of knowing and working with her.

We are grateful for Wendy's many contributions to the Santa Fe Group and the broader oral health community. Her legacy will continue through the people she mentored, the ideas she championed, and the meaningful change she helped create.

🔗 Read our tribute: https://santafegroup.org/news/health-leadership/remembering-dr-wendy-mouradian/

Stroke Awareness Month reminds us that health does not exist in silos. Oral health, cardiovascular health, and overall wellness are deeply interconnected, reinforcing the importance of prevention, early detection, and integrated care across disciplines.

As research continues to explore the connection between oral health and systemic conditions, there is an important opportunity to strengthen collaboration across healthcare and improve outcomes for patients and communities alike.

🔗 Learn more: https://santafegroup.org/news/health/stroke-awareness-month-what-it-reveals-about-the-need-for-integrated-care/



Kathryn Atchison, Elisa Chavez, Teresa Dolan, Anita Duhl Glicken, Linda Niessen, Judi Haber, Dushanka Kleinman, Lisa Simon, Peter DuBois, Ralph Fuccillo, Ronald Inge, David Kochman, Nicholas G. Mosca, Zachary Brian, Fotinos Panagakos

Today, CareQuest Institute for Oral Health and the American Heart Association will host a timely webinar on the connection between heart health and oral health, with a focus on high blood pressure screening in dental settings.

Each year, millions of people have a dental visit without a medical visit, creating an important opportunity for oral health teams to support early detection, patient education, and coordinated care.

We are especially pleased to share that Santa Fe Group member Dr. Lisa Simon, MD, DMD will serve as moderator and presenter for this important discussion.

🔗 Register here: https://learning.carequest.org/ #/instructor-led-courses/06618a0a-a158-452d-975c-e3eb7d9ec180

We’re pleased to highlight presentations from Santa Fe Group members Dr. Teresa Dolan and Dr. Judi Haber as part of NYU College of Dentistry’s upcoming hybrid symposium, "Aiming for Improved Health Care: The Evolving Role of AI in Evidence-based Practice."

This two-day symposium will bring together a broad range of experts exploring the intersection of evidence-based practice, innovation, artificial intelligence, and clinical decision-making in healthcare.

May 21–22, 2026

🔗 Register here: https://dental.nyu.edu/research/cohpm/ai-ebd-symposium.html

The Santa Fe Group is honored to support the 2026 National Voices of Medicare Summit as a Chiplin Award Sponsor.

We are especially proud to celebrate Dr. Natalia Chalmers, recipient of the 2026 Alfred J. Chiplin, Jr. Social Justice & Advocacy Award, in recognition of her extraordinary leadership and longstanding commitment to advancing health equity and improving lives through oral health.

We are grateful to the Center for Medicare Advocacy for bringing together advocates, policymakers, clinicians, and leaders dedicated to protecting and strengthening access to care for all.

🔗 Register here: https://medicareadvocacy.org/summit-2026/

Public health resiliency begins with collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to improving lives. Join leaders across healthcare, oral health, and public policy for the 2026 AIDPH Colloquium as we explore how collective action can strengthen healthier communities for the future.

Virtually | May 12–13, 2026
Register now and be part of the conversation shaping tomorrow’s public health solutions.
🔗 https://aidph.org/colloquium/

In recognition of National Nurses Week (May 6-12), we honor the critical role nurses play in advancing whole-person care.

Through leadership, education, and clinical practice, nurses are essential to strengthening the connection between oral health and overall health.

We’re proud to highlight the work of the Oral Health Nursing Education and Practice (OHNEP) program, under the leadership of Santa Fe Group member Dr. Judi Haber, which continues to advance interprofessional collaboration and integration across care settings.

🔗 https://nursing.nyu.edu/w/ohnep

Sjögren’s doesn’t fit neatly into one category. And that’s exactly the problem.

For many patients, the hardest part isn’t just the symptoms. It’s not knowing where to turn. Dentist or physician? Oral health or overall health?

This is where integrated care matters most.

🔗 Read more: https://santafegroup.org/news/medical-dental-integration/bridging-the-gap-what-sjogrens-teaches-us-about-whole-person-care/