18th Majority Leader, U.S. Senate, 2003-2007; U.S. Senator from Tennessee, 1995-2007; Heart-Lung Transplant Surgeon

During his 20 years in medicine, Dr. Bill Frist performed over 150 heart and lung transplants, and founded the Vanderbilt Transplant Center, now one of the premier transplant facilities in the U.S. As a U.S. Senator, he emerged as one of the leading voices on health issues in America today and is consistently recognized among the most influential leaders in American healthcare. He fought hard to strengthen Medicare, provide seniors with better access to prescription drugs, and make health care more affordable and available to every American. Learn more>>

Professor, Dentistry and Health Policy and Management, Columbia University Medical Center; Founder and Chair, Children’s Dental Health Project

For 21 years, Dr. Edelstein practiced pediatric dentistry and taught pediatric dentistry and oral health policy at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. He then shifted his career to commit to advancing health policy. Dr. Edelstein served as a 1996-7 Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow in the office of U.S. Senate minority leader Tom Daschle; worked with the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services on oral health initiatives; chaired the U.S. Surgeon General's Workshop on Children and Oral Health; and authored the child section of the U.S. Surgeon General's report on oral health. In 1997, Dr. Edelstein founded the Children's Dental Health Project with the help of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American Dental Education Association.

Director, Pew Children’s Dental Campaign, Pew Center on the States, The Pew Charitable Trusts

Shelly Gehshan is a children’s advocate and health policy expert who has nearly 20 years of experience working for state policy makers on issues affecting low-income women, children, and families.

From 2005 to 2008, Ms. Gehshan served as a senior program director at the National Academy for State Health Policy in Washington, D.C., a nonpartisan organization of state health policy makers.  She developed NASHP’s work on oral health and directed projects on health care reform, Medicaid, behavioral health, and juvenile justice. Learn more>>

Professor, Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Washington; Director of Dentistry at Seattle Children’s Hospital

Dr. Berg is a board certified pediatric dentist, and is a Trustee of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. He previously held positions as Vice President of Clinical Affairs at Philips Oral Healthcare; Head of the Scientific Department for ESPE Dental AG; and Director of the Postgraduate/Residency Program in Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Texas, Houston, where he conducted numerous clinical trials evaluating restorative materials. Dr. Berg has authored a multitude of manuscripts, abstracts and book chapters on a variety of subjects, including restorative materials for children and biomaterials. His current research includes early childhood oral health and the development of dental caries prevention programs using risk assessment models.

Professor, Univ. of Colorado Denver School of Dental Medicine; Dental Director, Total Longterm Care of Colorado; Past Chair of the Gerontology and Geriatrics Education Section, American Dental Education Association

One of the leading geriatric dentists in the nation, Dr. Berkey is an internationally renowned dental academic and leader in teaching, research, and patient care related to geriatric and special care dentistry. As a Professor at the Denver School of Dental Medicine, he serves as chair of the department of applied dentistry and director of the Advanced General Education in Dentistry program.

Dr. Berkey has also maintained a part-time clinical practice in geriatric dentistry, staying closely connected with patient needs. He's authored over 40 publications, eight book chapters, and is a frequently invited guest lecturer. His many prestigious awards include the U.S. Public Health Service Scholarship, a Pew National Dental Leadership award, a Fulbright Scholar finalist award, and the ADA’s Geriatric Health Care Award.

Vice President, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Dr. Errante brings over 25 years of experience in dentistry and entrepreneurship to his leadership role at Blue Cross. He manages the dental insurance business and helps create solutions that integrate dental and medical data to advance care and benefits for oral health and overall health. He is a nationally recognized executive in the dental industry and has built, operated and sold leading dental benefit businesses and large dental group practices.

Co-Founder and CEO of Apple Tree Dental, Minnesota; Past President, Special Care Dentistry Assn; Immediate Past President, American Society for Geriatric Dentistry; Clinical Assistant Professor, Univ. of Minnesota, School of Dentistry

Apple Tree Dental, a non-profit organization founded in 1985, helps bring dental care services to underserved populations including those who can’t pay, as well as the sick, disabled, and elderly. Apple Tree has now treated over 60,000 people, including about 30,000 nursing facility and assisted living residents.

Dr. Helgeson also collaborates nationally on projects to improve dental care delivery and policies, and is a widely recognized guest lecturer on innovations in eldercare and special care dentistry. As a U.S. Public Health Service dentist, he helped establish the Water Tower Clinic for special needs patients, and in 2005 received the U.S. Public Health Service 15 Year Outstanding Service Award.

Director of Dental Healthcare Analysis, VA Office of Dentistry

A practicing dentist for over 20 years, Dr. O’Toole has also dedicated many years working with the VA Office of Dentistry in Washington, D.C. to help improve oral health for thousands of veterans in need. In addition to managing medical and dental care deployment for about 8,000 patients each year, Dr. O’Toole has been at the forefront of the VA’s efforts to evolve their electronic health record system. For nearly a decade he has focused on advancing the technology, serving as head of software development, where his team identifies needs and creates solutions that help providers deliver more effective care. Additionally, the electronic health records enable the VA to effectively track data on patients and treatment protocols to measure outcomes and provider performance in order to drive system-wide improvements.

Director of Clinical Research, Professor, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Stony Brook

Dr. Ryan is actively involved in teaching, practice and research at SUNY's School of Dental Medicine; serves on several scientific, dental and medical advisory boards; holds several patents; and has won numerous leadership awards in the dental profession. As a nationally known speaker and author, Dr. Ryan has published over 75 scholarly works, lectures frequently, and has appeared on TV and radio to discuss newly emerging therapeutics, the connections between oral and systemic health, and the need for early detection of oral diseases.