The Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders (AOHAB), in partnership with the NYU College of Dentistry, the NYU School of Global Public Health, and the World Federation of Public Health Associations Oral Health Work Group, proudly hosted “Mouth Matters: Civil Society Drives Health Through Oral Health” on September 21, 2025. This hybrid event, held in New York City and streamed globally, brought together leading voices to highlight oral health’s essential role in the fight against noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) during United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) week.

Building on its consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), AOHAB joined forces with fellow ECOSOC-accredited organizations to elevate oral health in global health policy conversations. The goal: to raise visibility, deepen appreciation of the complex drivers behind oral health disparities, and catalyze coordinated action across sectors.

“We realized there was an opportunity to create something new—a civil society–led platform where voices from across sectors could come together to highlight the critical role oral health plays in total wellness,” said Dr. Deborah Weisfuse, AOHAB President. “The level of interest we received was beyond what we imagined, and our collaboration grew to include organizations from around the world.”

The event reflected the leadership and dedication of the AOHAB community:

Four AOHAB board members participated as speakers or panelists.
One faculty member from AOHAB’s global oral health course contributed expertise.
Colgate-Palmolive Company, a major sponsor of AOHAB’s Student Leadership in Global Oral Health program, supported the event—highlighting the alliance’s deep ties to education, advocacy, and leadership development.

Internationally known speakers—Dr. Maria Ryan, Dr. Monika Arora, and Dr. Steven P. Perlman—each underscored why oral health is integral to overall health, sharing outstanding examples and insights from their domains. A lively panel followed, featuring rich interaction among participants; Dr. Kiran Nagdeo helped organize and facilitate the discussion, with important contributions from fellow panelist Dr. Abiola Adeniyi.

Keynotes and panel dialogue explored how oral health intersects with NCD prevention, health equity, and sustainable development, culminating in concluding remarks by Dr. Lois Cohen, a pioneer in global oral health initiatives.

Dr. Weisfuse recognized the NYU College of Dentistry and NYU School of Global Public Health for their leadership in hosting the event and extended thanks to Dr. Fernando Hugo, Dr. Charles Bertolami, Dr. Kiran Nagdeo, volunteers, and global dignitaries for their contributions.

The program was moderated by Dr. Vera Tang, Clinical Assistant Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Periodontics and Implant Dentistry at NYU, who brought academic and professional expertise to guide the day’s discussions.

About the Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders (AOHAB)

The Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders unifies diverse global voices to advance oral health worldwide. We deliver innovative education and leadership programs, forge cross-sector partnerships, and leverage the power of a growing alumni network to drive measurable impact.

Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders Champions Oral Health in Landmark UN Side Event

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