Altman named to dental public health board
Posted: May 21, 2012
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Don Altman, DDS, DHSc, MPH, MBA, MA, has been appointed to the American Board of Dental Public Health. Dr. Altman serves as associate professor, director, public health and research for A.T. Still University-Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH) and chair, Department of Public Health for ATSU-School of Health Management (ATSU-SHM). He received his doctor of health sciences from ATSU-Arizona School of Health Sciences in March 2012.
Dr. Altman will serve a five-year term as a diplomat of the profession. Before board appointment, eligible dentists must have an MPH degree and complete a dental public health residency. They must also take a 2 ½ day comprehensive oral and written exam.
Dr. Altman hopes to bring his administrative expertise to help organize the infrastructure of the board. He has experience working for city and state health departments in Texas and served as dental director for the Arizona Department of Health. He joined the faculty at ATSU-ASDOH in 2006 to develop and initiate its Master’s of Public Health-Dental Emphasis program.
“I am honored to have been appointed to my specialty board and will work hard to make sure those candidates who wish to become Diplomates of the profession are competent in all aspects of dental public health,” said Dr. Altman.
The purpose of the American Board of Dental Public Health is:
- To protect and improve the public’s health by the study and creation of standards for the practice of dental public health in all of its aspects and relationships
- To grant and issue dental public health certificates to dentists who have successfully completed the prescribed training and experience requisite the special knowledge and ability needed for the practice of dental public health
- To ensure continuing competency of diplomats