Rutgers Professor Becomes State Dental Director

Stefanie Russell will lead New Jersey's oral health initiatives while advancing public health dentistry education at the university

Stefanie Russell, an associate professor of pediatric dentistry and community health at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, has been named the New Jersey state dental director.

She will be heading the state's oral health care efforts for the next three years. "In Dr. Russell, New Jersey is gaining a state dental director who is a rare resource: a dentist who is also an epidemiologist - and that makes her exactly who we need to help drive this department's oral health agenda," said New Jersey Health Commissioner Raynard E. Washington. "Oral health significantly impacts overall health. This is made clear by a growing body of evidence connecting poor oral health to adverse pregnancy outcomes, increased risk of heart problems, and a range of other health conditions. Dr. Russell has spent her career building part of that evidence base, studying how oral health intersects with systemic conditions and how social determinants shape who gets care and who does not."

Russell obtained her doctor of dental surgery degree from Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. During her periodontics residency, she developed an interest in public health. She then earned a master's degree in public health from the University of Connecticut, followed by a doctoral degree in chronic disease epidemiology from Yale University. She arrived at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine in 2024 as a public health dentist to build dental public health programs.

"As New Jersey's only dental school and largest oral health care provider, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine has a firsthand understanding of our state's needs as well as a unique responsibility to address them for our residents," Dean Cecile A. Feldman said. "We are thrilled to have such a capable public health advocate in this role who will guide and push our state to be better."

In the role, Russell will manage federal and state oral health grants. She also joins the National Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors, where she will exchange strategies with dental directors from other states.

"For a public health dentist, it's a dream job to have an effect on an entire population of the state," Russell said.

New Jersey remains one of the least fluoridated states in the nation despite decades of evidence supporting prevention, and it continues to experience high rates of childhood decay. But unlike many states that have basic dental screening surveys of third graders, New Jersey extends surveillance to pregnant women and nursing home residents.

"The oral health challenges facing New Jersey are significant, but so are the opportunities," Russell said. "I am honored to join the talented team at the New Jersey Department of Health and to work with dedicated community organizations, providers, educators and advocates across the state as we advance a shared vision of better oral health for all New Jerseyans."

In Dr. Russell, New Jersey is gaining a state dental director who is a rare resource: a dentist who is also an epidemiologist - and that makes her exactly who we need to help drive this department's oral health agenda.

Raynard E. Washington

New Jersey Health Commissioner

Beyond supporting the state's existing agenda, Russell has priorities of her own. She wants to test statewide interventions, such as silver diamine fluoride (a liquid topical medication used to stop tooth decay from spreading" in schools for cavity prevention and the integration of oral health into prenatal healthcare efforts.

"By investing in proven public health strategies, strengthening community partnerships, and expanding access to preventive care, we can improve health outcomes for generations to come," she said.

Russell has just assumed her role as the state dental director, which she will serve until 2029 while also continuing to teach at Rutgers. She is working to launch master's, certificate and residency programs in dental public health at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. She hopes the first cohort of these programs will arrive next fall.

"Public health dentistry is how we create lasting change, not just for individual patients, but for entire communities," Russell said.