Introducing The New State Dental Director

Hello! I am Stacey Swilling, and I’m the new State Dental Director. In the summer of 2022, the State of Utah merged the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services into one entity, now called the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). As a part of this merger, the Oral Health Program was moved to the Clinical Services Section and is housed under Primary Care and Rural Health Division. The State Medical Director, Dr. Michelle Hofmann, is the Executive Director of the Clinical Services Section, and she is committed to integrating the profile (and importance) of oral health into overall health and wellness.

As many of you know, at one time the Utah Oral Health Program had three full-time employees: a full-time State Dental Director (SDD) and two Oral Health Educators (OHE), both registered dental hygienists and was housed in the Maternal and Child Health Division within Family Health. Over time, the Oral Health Program footprint got smaller and smaller, and in early 2022, we had a State Dental Director (SDD) for eight hours/week and one full-time Oral Health Educator (OHE). I am very thankful to my predecessor, Dr. Kim Michelson, and OHE Lauren Neufeld, RDH, who managed to keep our program going while doing remarkable things with such time and personnel limitations and for being allies and resources to me in this role. In addition to them, the previous SDD, Dr. Steven Steed, and our other OHE, Michelle Martin-Baxter, RDH, started a strong legacy for future Oral Health Programs in Utah. The Utah dental community has had great leaders in our State offices.

Recently DHHS was awarded a Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) grant for an Oral Health Innovation Project with several components. I’ll share information about our pilot project in a future UDAction, but I include it to share the news that one piece of the grant included funding for increasing the Office of the State Dental Director from 0.2 FTE (8 hours/week) to 0.5 FTE (20 hours/week), with an ultimate DHHS goal of the State Dental Director being a fully funded, 1.0 FTE employee (40 hours/week). I’ve met many dentists here in Utah, but there are many more I haven’t yet had the opportunity to meet. I moved to Salt Lake City in 2018 to start a career in academia. I am continuing as a faculty member at the University of Utah School of Dentistry in a part-time role as I take on the role of SDD. When I moved here, I jumped quickly into volunteer roles with the Utah Dental Association, to include service on the Convention Scientific Committee and the House of Delegates. I currently have the honor of serving as the Scientific Chair for our 2023 Meeting.

Prior to moving to Utah, I owned a private practice in Sheridan, Arkansas, my hometown. I am a graduate of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee. In addition to my own solo practice, I have been employed and volunteered in other dental settings to include group practices, correctional dentistry, mobile dentistry for nursing homes, and Mission of Mercy events. I have always been a strong believer in giving back to my profession through leadership roles and membership in organized dentistry on the national, state, and local levels. I also currently serve as an examiner for the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCAWREB-CITA), one of the national competency-testing agencies.

I look forward to leading our State Oral Health Program and developing an Oral Health Strategy to improve the health and well-being of the citizens of Utah in concert with the DHHS vision of advocating for, supporting, and serving all individuals and communities in Utah, ensuring all Utahns have fair and equitable opportunities to live safe and healthy lives, through effective policy and a seamless system of services and programs. I look forward to meeting you as I settle into this role, and I encourage you to reach out to me to share your concerns, ideas, and thoughts related to the Utah Oral Health Program. My email is sswilling@utah.gov, and I hope to get to know more of the Utah Dental Community soon.

Stacey Swilling, DDS State of Utah Dental Director

How to Train Your Dragon (continued from page 21) we have a social responsibility for the quality of care in our community. Another way we can be the leading advocate for oral health in our community, is to help train students as they start a dental career.

How to Train Your Next Clinical Team Member?.......... Get

involved in their training. As you build relationships with students, you will discover those you would consider inviting to join your practice. Possible intern opportunities in your office during their training can make your offer of a job, their first choice. Building trusting relationships with faculty members can get their endorsement and their encouraging students to reach out to your practice to start their careers.

Our training programs across the state need your help, and more importantly, you may need their graduates on your clinical team.

Dr. Scott Theurer ADA Delegate Member, Utah Board of Higher Education