Former CDC director Delta Dental

OAK BROOK, Ilinois--Delta Dental Plans Association, representing a network of dental benefits providers, has announced that William Kohn, DDS, has joined DDPA as its vice president of dental science and policy.

To read more about Delta Dental, go to Delta Dental.

Dr. Kohn is the former director of the Division of Oral Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Ga.

"We couldn't be more thrilled with Bill's decision to join Delta Dental," said Kim Volk, president and CEO of DDPA. "His experience at the CDC and his knowledge of dental science will help ensure that Delta Dental remains the leader in advancing oral health throughout the country."

Said Dr. Kohn, "With states trying to figure out health-care reform, this is an important time for our country, and it's a great time to join Delta Dental. As more children gain access to dental coverage, my hope is that increasing numbers of parents will see the importance of oral health and will seek care themselves. As the largest provider of dental benefits, Delta Dental will be a key player in designing plans that are affordable and effective from a scientific perspective and in administering those plans. So, I'm proud that I'll have a chance to be part of that."

Prior to becoming the director of the Division of Oral Health, Dr. Kohn served as the division's Director for Science, where he was responsible for assuring the scientific integrity of division scientific and public documents. This included the 2003 Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings for which he was lead author.

A 1978 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Dentistry, Dr. Kohn served for three years in the U.S. Navy in a hospital-based general practice residency, and then as a dental officer in Adak, Alaska, before returning to Illinois and operating a private dental practice for two years.

Following a desire to return to Alaska, Dr. Kohn moved to Fairbanks where he directed the Interior Alaska Native Alaskan Dental Program for six years.

Dr. Kohn left Alaska for an oral medicine and public health management residency at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research of the National Institutes of Health. There, he worked with nationally recognized researchers in oral medicine and salivary gland research.

During his seven years at NIH, he conducted basic and clinical research studies, served as the science transfer coordinator, directed the hospital dental program and oral medicine residency program, and served as the deputy clinical director for the Institute.

To watch an interview with Dr. Kohn, go to www.youtube.com/watch.

For more information, go to www.deltadental.com.

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