9th Noteworthy MEMORANDUM TO: NYSDA Board of Trustees Component Dental Society Presidents & Executive Directors FROM: Brendan P. Dowd, DDS, President RE: NYS HPV Coalition DATE: 14 September 2018 As you are aware, the American Dental Association has taken a very proactive stance regarding raising awareness amongst our colleagues about human papillomavirus (HPV) prevention activities and, in particular, how we, as a profession, can help educate the public about the relationship between HPV and oropharyngeal cancer. In dentistry, it could be argued that this is somewhat of a “new” issue, but in reality, it is something that many researchers have been warning about for some time. That said, NYSDA has always been at the forefront of educating our members, and protecting the public we serve. To that end, we have partnered with the NYS HPV Coalition, which was formed last year tasked to increase HPV vaccinations from 55.7 percent to 80 percent by 2023. Working with us are other highly reputable public health groups, such as the NYS Association of Community Health Organizations, with whom we have worked in the past. The reason for this memo is to encourage you to help us alert your constituents about upcoming continuing education activities relating to this issue. The need to engage the oral health community is profoundly important, and, at the same time, underscores the fact that NYSDA has, throughout its 150 year history, been the leader in New York State in regards to linking the potentially detrimental effects of certain things (e.g., smoking and tobacco products) to oral AND overall health. NYSDA will inform you of upcoming CE, as well as any news relating to the issue of HPV as it relates to oral health. Again, it is our hope that you will pass this information along to your membership, so that, in the end, we are all working toward the same purpose. Thank you as always for your ongoing commitment to maintaining the excellence of the dental profession in New York State, and of protecting the public that it serves. 36 BULLETIN NINTH DISTRICT DENTAL ASSOCIATION