• Habib Benzian, John S Greenspan, Jane Barrow, Jeffrey W Hutter, Peter M Loomer, Nicole Stauf, and Dorothy A Perry.
• Dr. Benzian is Adjunct Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, College of Dentistry, New York University; Dr. Greenspan is Professor Emeritus, Schools of Dentistry and Medicine, University of California, San Francisco; Ms. Barrow is Assistant Dean of Global and Community Health, Harvard School of Dental Medicine; Dr. Hutter is Dean and Spencer N. Frankl Professor in Dental Medicine, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University; Dr. Loomer is Chair and Clinical Professor, Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry, College of Dentistry, New York University; Ms. Stauf is Project Manager/Policy Analyst, The Health Bureau Ltd.; and Dr. Perry is Professor, Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco. habib.benzian@mac.com.
• J Dent Educ. 2015 Apr 1;79(4):353-61.

AbstractThe Lancet Commission on Education of Health Professionals for the 21(st) Century calls for enhancing health education for the needs and challenges of the 21st century to improve health status globally. To complement the Lancet report, this article makes recommendations for including core global health competencies in the education of health care professionals and specific groups of the public who are relevant to oral health in a global context in order to tackle the burden of oral diseases. Experts from various professional backgrounds developed global oral health competencies for four target groups: Group 1 was defined as dental students, residents/trainee specialists (or equivalent), and dentists; Group 2 was community health workers, dental hygienists, and dental therapists (or the equivalent); Group 3 was health professionals such as physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists; and Group 4 was non-health professionals in the public arena such as parents, teachers, decision makers, key opinion leaders, and health and consumer advocates. Key competencies for members of each of the four target groups are presented in a matrix. The suggested competency matrix shows that many other health professions and groups in society have potentially crucial roles in the prevention, control, and management of oral diseases globally. Workforce models including a wider range of professionals working together as a team will be needed to tackle the burden of oral diseases in an integrated way in the broader context of non-communicable diseases. Further discussion and research should be conducted to validate or improve the competencies proposed here with regard to their relevance, appropriateness, and completeness.

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