A PhD student presented at the American Public Health Association annual meeting

Jenn Lee, a doctoral student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, presented her research at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association in Minneapolis.

Lee’s presentation explored how dental medicine and social work disciplines differ in their understanding of the social determinants of oral health. She also highlighted the role of social workers in dental offices in mitigating oral health disparities.

Her current project, Empowering Smiles, involves interviewing immigrant community members, dentists, and dental office staff in Pittsburgh to examine the challenges immigrants face in accessing preventive dental care. She is also exploring the potential of integrating social workers into dental practices as a way to address these challenges.