Sara Pollock Hoverter | O’Neill Institute
Sara is the Director of the Center for Community Health Innovation at the O’Neill Institute, where she collaborates with frontline communities and grassroots organizations to address social determinants of health. Her work focuses on advancing equitable access to healthcare, environmental justice, workers' rights, and other systemic factors contributing to health disparities among long-underserved racial and socioeconomic groups across the United States.
Before joining the O’Neill Institute*, Hoverter served nearly two decades as a staff attorney at the Harrison Institute for Public Law, a Georgetown University law clinic. She also taught as an adjunct professor there while leading the public health and food systems policy team. Her efforts encompassed improving oral health access and workforce development, strengthening food systems, advocating for workers’ rights, addressing climate change’s impact on public health, expanding Medicaid, and supporting community health worker networks. She earned her B.A. from Yale University and her J.D. and LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center.
Advocacy in Action: Driving Change in Oral Health Policy
Join us for an exciting session that will keep you at the forefront of the latest policies and regulations transforming oral healthcare! We’ll explore recent legislative victories, including the groundbreaking expansion of the scope of practice for dental hygienists and dental assistants in Washington, D.C., which is opening doors to improved access to preventive care, particularly for underserved communities. Learn how these important changes empower dental professionals and make a real difference in patient care.
This is your chance to understand the power of advocacy in shaping policy and get energized about your role in advancing oral health justice. Whether you’re a seasoned advocate or just starting, you’ll leave with practical knowledge and tools to continue driving change in your community. Together, we can make a lasting impact—let’s take action!
Educational Objectives:
Examine recent policy advancements and their implications for improving access to preventive oral healthcare.
Explain the role of advocacy in shaping oral healthcare policy.
Identify actionable steps to influence legislation that advances oral health justice.
*O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, Center for Community Health Innovation collaborates with communities to address systemic factors driving health inequities among underserved racial and socioeconomic groups in the U.S. and globally. By focusing on social determinants like healthcare access, economic stability, housing, and the environment, CCHI works to improve health outcomes through innovative, community-driven solutions. Our efforts center around four priority areas: expanding access to oral health, addressing climate change, mitigating displacement and gentrification, and advancing workers’ rights. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, coalition-building, and policy innovation, CCHI amplifies frontline voices to create holistic, sustainable solutions. By prioritizing community expertise at every stage, we work to improve public health and foster equity for those most impacted.
