Leadership and Legacy: Oral Health Milestones in Maternal and Child Health Promotion and Prevention OHRC

1956

Public health dentistry training
Child receiving oral health care.
  • Health Amendments Act passed

Background

The purpose of the Health Amendments Act of 1956 (Public Law 94-911) was to increase the number of trained public health personnel. Federal aid was authorized for accelerating the training of public health specialists. The legislation authorized a 3-year program of dental traineeships beginning in 1957. These long-term traineeship awards were targeted to graduate or specialized training in public health for physicians, engineers, nurses, and other health professionals, including dental personnel. In the first year of the program, 10 dentists and 8 dental hygienists were awarded traineeships. In 1959, legislation extended the authority for long-term traineeships targeted to graduate or specialized training in public health. In 1961, Title III of the Public Health Service Act (Public Law 86-720) was amended to authorize grants for graduate training in public health. This act authorized the award of grants to schools of public health to develop and strengthen their curricula.

Impact

During the late 1950s, the 1960s, and the early 1970s, as a result of federal programs, a number of oral health professionals received needed training in public health. Many of these individuals went on to work in public agencies at the federal, state, and local levels and were instrumental in leading activities to enhance community health status.

Source

Duffy R, Chen DW, Sampson NH. 1998. History of federal legislation in health professions educational assistance in dental public health, 1956–97. Journal of Public Health Dentistry 58(suppl. 1):84–89.

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