surance populations, because people just assume they do not have any problems in accessing care or they have enough resources to access care,” Bhagavatula says. “But we were able to find racial disparities, even among children who are privately insured. I also identified some geographic variation.” For example, his research shows that privately insured children in rural areas get more emergency care than preventive care, as do non-white privately insured children. “They are more likely to get advanced-care procedures like root canals or extractions,” he says. Bhagavatula also conducts research into epidemiology of oral diseases with a special interest in dental fluorosis. He is now studying the impact of the timing of fluoride intake, as well as genetic predispositions to the condition.
International Background Informs Okunseri’s Approach adjunct professor at the Medical Dr. Christopher Okunseri has built a College of Wisconsin, which procareer from his passion for public health. vides statistical support for all of his “I chose dental public health for a number research. of reasons,” says the native of Nigeria. He serves as the secretary and trea“One is my background. I am originally surer for the American Association from a developing country that recogfor Public Health nizes the health of the Dentistry, and is population as integral president-elect to not only the sucof the Behavcess of any individual, ioral, Epidemiobut to the success logic and Health of a country as a Services Rewhole. You have to be search group of healthy to be successthe International ful, to be able to make Association for a meaningful impact Dental Research. in society.” Okunseri is He studied and also the past practiced general president of the dentistry in Nigeria faculty council for several years. “I of the School was also involved of Dentistry, the in a school-based immediate past program as a dentist chair of Marback in my home quette Univercountry,” Okunseri sity’s Institutional says. “I realized very Review Board quickly the imporDr. Christopher Okunseri and is currently tance of populations’ vice chair of the University’s Comoral health.” mittee on Research. In addition, he To build on his training, he earned a was recently nominated to serve a master’s degree in dental public health six-year term as a reviewer for the from the Eastman Dental Institute at National Institute of Dental and University College London, and a fellowCraniofacial Research, part of the ship with the Royal College of Surgeons National Institute, Special Grants in Ireland. Eventually he moved to New Review study section. York and completed a residency program Aside from his teaching and research in dental public health at the Montefiore responsibilities, Okunseri spends one Medical Center, which is part of Yeshiva day each week providing clinical care University. as a member of Marquette Dental He has been part of the Marquette Dental School’s faculty practice. School faculty since 2004, and is also an Correction: The Summer 2014 issue of Dental Images incorrectly identified Dr. Christopher Okunseri as an Assistant Professor. His title is Professor and Predoctoral Program Director for Public Health.
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