Disparities Research in Indian Country: Challenges and Rewards

The speaker is principal investigator of the Center for Native Oral Health Research (CNOHR), an NIDCR-funded center focused on developing and evaluating interventions to address disparities in oral disease among American Indians/Alaska Natives. CNOHR collaborates with similar centers at Boston University and the University of California at San Francisco in conducting clinical trials of interventions to reduce Early Childhood Caries. Dr. Albino is President Emerita at the University of Colorado and currently serves as Interim Dean of the Colorado School of Public Health. She has served several universities administratively at the levels of dean, associate provost, vice president, and president. Her academic career began at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine and has focused on behavioral strategies for prevention of oral disease and on the psychosocial correlates of oral conditions and treatments. Her work has been characterized by community-based participatory approaches and the development of culturally sensitive interventions. In addition, Dr. Albino has written extensively about higher education, is active as an executive coach, and provides programs for leadership training in higher education through the Academy for Academic Leadership.