The Dental Trade Alliance Foundation Announces New Appointments

The Dental Trade Alliance Foundation Announces New Appointments

March 16, 2009 – Washington, D.C. – Charles Cohen, Chairman of the Board, of the Dental Trade Alliance Foundation (DTAF) announced the appointment of Kevin Thomas as Executive Director for the Foundation. Mr. Thomas will serve the Foundation in a part-time capacity and will also continue in his current position as Manager of Industry Relations for 3M ESPE. Mr. Thomas has worked in the dental industry for over 25 years. He held various positions with Johnson & Johnson, Dentsply and OMNI Oral Pharmaceuticals before joining 3M ESPE. He has also been an active member of The Dental Trade Alliance and served the DTAF as the most recent Chairperson of the Program Committee. “Kevin brings a wealth of experience that will help us reach our goal of being one of oral healthcare’s premier Foundations,” stated Mr. Cohen.

The DTAF has also appointed Kendra McGuigan as Administrative Assistant. Ms. McGuigan spent the past 5 years at the Delaware County Department of Human Services. In her role as a Fiscal Technician, Kendra worked to secure Title IV-E funding for children in foster care. Ms. McGuigan and her husband served our country in the Coast Guard at posts in California, Alaska, North Carolina and Massachusetts. “Kendra’s background, experience and drive will be of great assistance to the work of the DTAF,” said Mr. Thomas.

About the DTAF

The Dental Trade Alliance Foundation (DTAF) funds early stage innovative programs designed to increase the effectiveness of the oral healthcare system by encouraging changes in overall consumer behavior, improving access for underserved populations and by enhancing the efficiency of the system.

The foundation’s relationship with oral healthcare industry leaders and the academic/policy community provides a unique and balanced perspective to identify programs that will positively impact oral health.

By providing seed funding for promising programs, the DTAF enables individuals or groups to complete “proof of concept” efforts for programs that can be replicated and expanded.

This approach allows the foundation to leverage a growing, yet relatively modest portfolio into large advancements in oral health care. Historically, every $1,000 donated has resulted in $20,000 in additional funding for, or benefit from, projects receiving DTAF funding.