Delta Dental of Arkansas promotes Sharon Lanier to basis government director

Delta Dental of Arkansas introduced Tuesday (Feb. 21) the promotion of Sharon Lanier, Ph.D., to government director of the Delta Dental of Arkansas Basis, efficient instantly. She beforehand served because the interim director.

As head of the inspiration, Lanier will spearhead statewide partnerships to develop long-term packages and initiatives to stop extreme oral well being points and keep away from expensive interventions afterward. The muse donates a median of $1 million annually to Arkansas non-profits, authorities organizations and colleges to assist oral well being training and dental illness and prevention initiatives.

Arkansas ranks among the many backside 5 states in dental well being.

“Along with her strategic imaginative and prescient, eager analytical abilities and keenness for philanthropy, Sharon has already opened new doorways and strengthened the influence of each Delta Dental of Arkansas and the Basis,” mentioned Kristin Merlo, President & CEO of Delta Dental of Arkansas. “Her future contributions will additional speed up our mission to enhance the oral well being of all Arkansans.”

Delta Dental of Arkansas facilitates entry to dental care by providing reasonably priced insurance coverage charges, sustaining the state’s largest community of collaborating suppliers, and totally funding its personal basis to serve low-income, uninsured residents. It directs a big proportion of internet revenue from operations yearly to the inspiration, a complete of greater than $25 million since its inception in 2008.

The muse has served as the first funder of a multi-year group water fluoridation effort, which was mandated by Act 197 by the Arkansas Legislature in 2011 as a cavity-prevention measure. Consequently, greater than 90% of Arkansans have entry to optimally fluoridated faucet water in comparison with the nationwide common of 75%.

It has since expanded its focus to collaborate with native and statewide organizations to develop strategic, systemic options that enhance entry to dental care, advance oral well being fairness and strengthen communities throughout Arkansas.

“I’m grateful for the chance to steer the Basis’s efforts in creating transformational change in oral well being for Arkansans.,” Lanier mentioned. “Delta Dental is uniquely positioned to deal with the oral well being disparity in our state, and I’m dedicated to integrating studying and sharing via group partnerships into the Basis’s organizational technique.”

A ten-year veteran of the non-profit sector, Lanier joined the inspiration in early 2021 as a group influence analyst. Beforehand, she held a management place in group partnership improvement with the American Coronary heart Affiliation.

She earned a bachelor’s diploma in broadcast journalism from UA LR, a grasp’s diploma in psychology from the College of Phoenix and a doctorate in interdisciplinary management research from UCA.