In 2012 the AAPD through the Council on Government Affairs developed a state Public Policy Advocate initiative in order to strengthen and coordinate advocacy efforts by our state chapters. The Public Policy Advocate (PPA) position is designed to serve as the state pediatric dentistry association’s advocate for the oral health issues of infants, children, adolescents and patients with special health care and developmental needs. The PPA will help represent the state pediatric dentistry association in promoting children’s oral health issues with the state legislature and other elected bodies, state regulatory agencies (including Medicaid and health departments), licensing bureaus, professional health and child welfare organizations, oral health coalitions, foundations, institutions of dental education, publicly-funded safety net programs, and the private sector benefits industry. The PPA will also closely coordinate their activities with those of the state dental association. PPAs will serve as an advocacy liaison between the state pediatric dentistry association and the state dental association.
The PPA program is modeled on the successful efforts by Dr. Paul Reggiardo (former AAPD president), who served as PPA for the California Society of Pediatric Dentistry (CSPD) for many years. Dr. Reggiardo is currently the Executive Director of CSPD.
AAPD members interested in public policy issues in their state as well as policymakers and advocates for children’s oral health at the state level should feel free to contact the PPA in your state. Click here for the current list of state PPAs. For further information about the program please contact AAPD Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel C. Scott Litch at oed@aapd.org.
State Public Policy Advocates (as of May 2025)
Alabama
Dr. Carson M Cruise
carsoncruise@gmail.com
Alaska
Dr. Maxwell Daniel Kubitz
maxwell.kubitz@gmail.com
(907) 830-1099
Arizona
Dr. Jessica L. Robertson
roberjes@icloud.com
(928) 779-0385
Arkansas
Dr. Jeffrey D. Rhodes
jrhodes@smile-shoppe.com
(479) 631-6377
California
Dr. Andrew Tong
andytdmd@gmail.com
Colorado
Dr. Jeffrey A. Kahl
kahlja@msn.com
(719) 522-0123
Connecticut
Dr. Brianna Munoz
brmunoz19@gmail.com
(203) 245-1454
District of Columbia
Dr. Anupama R. Tate
atate@childrensnational.org
(202) 476-3559
Florida
Dr. Irwine Sainvil
faithfuldds@gmail.com
(305) 794-5686
Georgia
Dr. Abbey Marie Elson
abbeydmd1@gmail.com
(314) 852-5965
Hawaii
Dr. Nadiene Oh Wu
Nadienewudds@gmail.com
(808) 285-5896
Idaho
Dr. Kory Bingham
kbogzy@gmail.com
(208) 745-2010
Illinois
Dr. Flavia Lamberghini
flavia@appledentalcare.org
(773) 384-3500
Indiana
Dr. Katelyn Brauer
katelyn.brauer@poplarpd.com
(317) 939-6558
Iowa
Dr. Kecia Leary
kecia-leary@uiowa.edu
(319) 335-8147
Kentucky
Dr. Kirby C. Hoetker
khoetker@doctorkirby.com
(502) 633-4441
Louisiana
Dr. Suzanne E. Fournier
fouse06@gmail.com
(504) 410-3051
Maine
Dr. Stephen C. Mills
LMILLS5977@aol.com
(207) 883-4203
Maryland
Dr. Shari C. Kohn
thedentist4kids@comcast.net
(410) 771-8200
Dr. Kristen D. Evans
maloney.kristen@gmail.com
Massachusetts
Dr. Hubert J. Park
hubertpark@gmail.com
(617) 895-6700
Michigan
Dr. John H. Deppen
jhdeppen@gmail.com
(269) 323-8016
Minnesota
Dr. Elise Sarvas
elisesarvas@gmail.com
(919) 423-5969
Mississippi
Dr. Neva Eklund
Neklund1965@gmail.com
(601) 842-4341
Missouri
Dr. Aaron Bumann
aaron.bumann@gmail.com
(810) 733-5310
Montana
Dr. Kevin L. Rencher
mkrencher@msn.com
(406) 449-0189
Nebraska
Dr. Natalie Bussard
natalie.bussard@mypdsmail.com
(308) 520-5626
Nevada
Dr. Alice Chen
Achen@roseman.edu
(617) 504-4894
New Hampshire
Dr. Mindy Hall
mmhalldmd@gmail.com
New Jersey
Dr. Maxim Sulla
maxsulla@yahoo.com
(732) 249-1010
New Mexico
Dr. Kris Hendricks
drhendricksdds@gmail.com
(505) 473-5437
New York
Dr. Rajesh Adhia
rajesh.adhia@nyulangone.org
(718) 630-8783
North Carolina
Dr. Meredith Gentry Byrd
mgentrybyrd@gmail.com
(252) 670-8822
North Dakota
Dr. Tyler Johnson
tylerjohnson608@gmail.com
(701) 220-7267
Ohio
Dr. Homa Amini
Homa.Amini@nationwidechildrens.org
(614) 722-5651
Oklahoma
Dr. Janna C. McIntosh
mcnuttintosh@hotmail.com
(918) 423-2897
Oregon
Dr. Natasha Bramley
dr.natashabramley@gmail.com
(267) 237-3677
Pennsylvania
Dr. Lauren C. Yap
laurenyap02@gmail.com
(443) 662-5352
Rhode Island
Dr. Daniel J. Kane
Daniel.Kane@NYULangone.org
(401) 263-1153
South Carolina
Dr. Hannah Willis Rustin
hannahrwrustin@gmail.com
(803) 942-2709
South Dakota
Dr. Karli M. Williams
karli.willia@gmail.com
(605) 341-3068
Tennessee
Dr. Chad S. Eslinger
chad@dreslinger.com
(423) 476-2160
Texas
Dr. William D. Steinhauer
wdsdds@ymail.com
(210) 432-1510
Utah
Dr. Boyd W. Simkins
castlecreekpd@gmail.com
(801) 782-3920
Vermont
Dr. Brian D. Collins
bcinbigd@att.net
(802) 388-3553
Virginia
Dr. Joyce Fernandes
js_ferna@yahoo.com
(703) 887-8249
Washington
Brianne M. Butler
bbutlerdds@gmail.com
(425) 478-0013
Wisconsin
Dr. Colleen Collins Greene
greene.colleen@gmail.com
(810) 394-6539