June 2026 Newsletter

Building the future oral health workforce in New York: New solutions to close the dental care gap

From left to right: Pernell Brice, III, Vice President of Policy & Advocacy at Children's Health Fun, Diana Vasquez, Dental Hygienist/ Dental Hygiene Faculty, Paula Fischer, RDH, Past Chair NYS Oral Health Coalition, Chetna Rana, MPH, RDH, Dental Hygiene Strategy and Policy Analyst and Sherilee Callahan, RDA,MPH, Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY), and Director of Strategic Initiatives for CGH/FLPPS/RRHIO Melissa Wendland.

Too many New Yorkers still can’t get the dental care they need — and when routine care is out of reach, small problems can quickly become emergencies. Across New York and the country, workforce shortages, cost barriers, and uneven access continue to leave families without timely treatment. From training community health workers to supporting dental therapy and other approaches that can expand access to treatment, we are helping advance solutions to New York’s oral health workforce shortage and close the dental health care gap.

Learn more.

Actor shares his journey integrating Indigenous cultural practices with western medicine 

More than 100 Indigenous community members and allies gathered recently at the Rochester Museum and Science Center to hear actor Gary Farmer (Cayuga), and a local resident named Gabriele Papa (Seneca), speak about their experiences navigating cancer diagnoses. 

Learn more about what they had to say.

There's a health care rodeo coming to Rochester!

Did you hear? There’s a health care rodeo making its way through Rochester! If you missed the first one, don’t worry—there are two more opportunities to get your blood pressure checked, learn about vital resources in your community and connect with health professionals across a variety of disciplines.

Stop by for health care trucks and information tables on children’s health, substance use, Narcan, health insurance, mental health, dental care, older adult health, youth programs, social services, and brain health.

• On-site screening for high blood pressure + HIV/STD testing
• Music by DJ Shawn Estrich

Bring a neighbor and connect with local resources. All are welcome. Next up: July 11 in Aberdeen Square Park, and August 8 at Baden Park in conjunction with Jordan Health's Front Porch Festival.

Learn more.

Partner Spotlight: MELCORR

It was just a year ago when Mental Health Education and Legal Code for Refugee Rights, or MELCORR, opened its doors in the south Plymouth neighborhood with the goal of ensuring that area refugees and immigrants are empowered, heard, and supported as they build a better future. With a focus on reducing stigma around mental health in immigrant communities, MELCORR provides culturally responsive support through home visits, case management, street outreach, youth mentoring, women’s health education, and other family services. Their work reflects a holistic approach to care that includes mental health counseling, legal rights education, and community-based support for families.

“Already serving about 250 people, MELCORR is meeting an important need in our community by creating safe, trusted spaces where refugee and immigrant families can access support, build confidence, and talk openly about mental health. Like all of our health coalitions, their work is deeply rooted in culture, compassion, and community.” -Jeffrey Freeman, health coalition manager of the combined entity of Common Ground Health, Finger Lakes Performing Provider System (FLPPS), and Rochester Regional Health Information Organization (RRHIO).

MELCORR quickly became an important resource for refugee and immigrant families, offering services in Swahili, Somali, French, and Arabic and helping connect people to care in ways that feel approachable and respectful. Their vision—a world where every refugee and immigrant family feels safe, understood, and empowered—is already taking shape through the relationships they are building every day. Learn more at melcorrinc.org.

In the headlines

WDKX, Health Care Rodeo coming to Rochester this summer

University of Rochester Medical Center, Urban Indigenous Community Conversations Aim to Make Treatment More Accessible

Rochester First, Reconnect Rochester gives 19th Ward intersection ‘Complete Streets Makeover’

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