UNC Program for Oral Health Policy: Strengthening North Carolina’s Oral Health Systems

This fall, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry (UNC ASOD) launched the UNC Program for Oral Health Policy. The program was developed in response to longstanding gaps in access, prevention, and workforce distribution in North Carolina, and reflects UNC ASOD’s ACT curriculum (Advocate, Clinician, Thinker), which emphasizes the importance of preparing clinicians who understand how health systems operate and how policy influences patient care. The program incorporates policy analysis, community-based learning, and systems-focused training to provide learners with a clearer understanding of the conditions influencing oral health delivery across the state.