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March 3, 2009
AUGUSTA – Rep. Lisa Miller, D-Somerville, was presented with the Maine Dental Access Coalition’s Oral Health Hero award at a legislative breakfast Thursday.
The Coalition, whose mission is “to advocate for and improve access to quality preventative and comprehensive oral health care for all Maine residents,” presents the award to individuals who have shown outstanding leadership in oral health advocacy and a strong commitment to improving the state of oral health in Maine.
“You have to have the long view when working in oral health – we are so far ahead of the days 25 years ago when we had the highest cavity rate in the country,” said Miller. “But we still have a long way to go when a significant portion of our population has to drive hours to find a dentist who can see them.”
Miller, a third term legislator, was recognized for years of advocacy for prevention as a public health professional, for promotion of oral health funding in her work as a foundation official and for ongoing support of legislation addressing access to dental care and expansion of the oral health workforce.
For more information about the Maine Dental Access Coalition, visit Maine Dental.
Contact:
Rep. Lisa Miller, 549-7171
Katie Dzurec, Legislative Aide, 287-1430
Kyle Leighton, Communications Director, 287-1430