The Oral Health Task Force is a temporary committee of Maryland oral health experts created by the Maryland General Assembly under Senate Bill 100 and House Bill 368. The task force will study and analyze the current landscape of oral health services in the State and make recommendations to improve access to services, especially for our most vulnerable citizens. The task force will begin its work on July 1, 2021, and end on June 30, 2023.
Public Meeting Notice
All Oral Health Task Force meetings are open to the public. For those unable to attend, all meetings will be recorded and posted.
Our first meeting will be Tuesday September 14, 2021, from 2:30 - 4:00 PM. The agenda will be posted here in advance of the meeting. The public Youtube link for the meeting is available here on the MD General Assembly site and may be found going forward by searching the date of the meeting.
Task Force Goals and Objectives
The task force will:
- Study Marylanders' access to dental services.
- Identify areas lacking dental services.
- Identify barriers to receiving services.
- Make recommendations on ways to end barriers and increase access to dental services.
For more information, see Senate Bill 100 and House Bill 368 and the Fiscal And Policy Note.
Reporting Requirements
The task force must submit an interim report by May 1, 2022, and a final report by December 1, 2022, to the Governor and select General Assembly committees. Reports will be posted here when available.
Learn More
Past Agendas
Task Force Members
Co-chair Alexander Shekdar
| MD Department of Health, Acting Director, Office of Medical Benefits Management |
| Co-chair Mark Reynolds | Dean of the University of Maryland School of Dentistry |
| Emily A. Dow | Secretary of MD Higher Education Commission, or designee |
| Hakan Koymen | Dental Director of MD Healthy Smiles Dental Program, or designee |
| Debony Hughes | Director of Office of Oral Health, or designee |
| Charles Doring | MD State Dental Association representative |
| Ricardo C Kimbers | MD Dental Society representative |
| Jennifer A Suminski | MD Dental Hygienists' Association representative |
| Anna L Davis | Advocates for Children and Youth representative |
| Christy Russell | MD Developmental Disabilities Council representative |
| Mary Backley | MDAC representative |
| MJ Kraska | MD Alliance for the Poor representative |
| Jean J Carlson | MD Association of Community Colleges representative |
| Arpana S Verma | State Board of Dental Examiners |
| Jennifer L Briemann | MD MCO Association representative |
| Carol M Masden | MD Rural Health Association representative |
| Diane D Romaine | representative from a nonprofit organization that advocates for needs of poor |
| Brooks Woodward | dentist working in an FQHC or clinic providing dental services to underserved |
| Nicole Steck-Waitt | representative of the nursing home industry |
| Dean Shifflett | representative of a dental plan organization |
| Sarah L Czyz | dental hygienist who works in an FQHC or clinic providing dental services to underserved |
Contact
Oral Health Task Force Staff
