Buddhi M. Shrestha, DDS, MS, PhD
Director, Vice President for Oral Health, RPCN
Dr Buddhi Shrestha - Director of New York State Oral Health Technical Assistance Center and Vice-President for Oral Health Services at Rochester Primary Care Network (RPCN) - is former Associate Professor of Community and Pediatric Dentistry and Director of the Division of Community Dentistry at the University of Rochester Eastman Dental Center. He is also the founder and chair of the Rochester/New York State Oral Health Coalition (R/NYSOHC), a collaboration of Rochester region hospitals, community health centers and other community organizations in Upstate New York. The primary goal of this initiative is to facilitate enhanced access and utilization of dental care services for urban and rural underserved populations in Upstate New York.
Dr. Shrestha is well known for his expertise in developing innovative school-based dental program. Rochester's school-based dental program, under the leadership of Dr. Shrestha, was recognized at the Surgeon General's Conference on Children and Dental Health (2000) as a "success story" on community collaboration and dental health in the United States.
Recently Dr. Shrestha was appointed by the Governor to serve as a Member of the State Medical Advisory Committee as well as the Rural Health Council in the NYSDOH Office of Rural Health. Previously Dr. Shrestha served as a member of the Education Board and Oral Health Section Council of the American Public Health Association, Monroe County Board of Health Maternal and Child Health Committee, and the Bureau of Dental Health Strategic Planning Committee in Albany, N.Y. He currently serves as a member of the Rochester’s ABC Head Start Policy Council and Health Advisory Committee, the Anthony L. Jordan Health Center Board, the Finger Lakes Migrant Health Care Project Board, the NYSDOH Bureau of Dental Health’s Strategic Planning and NYS Oral Health Plan Steering Committee.
Dr. Shrestha is the recipient of a number of community service awards, including the “1999 Kenneth W. Woodward Award” by the Rochester Primary Care Network; “Special Recognition by New York State” at the 2002 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Healthy Community Expo II; “2002 Dr. Hermann Biggs Memorial Award” by the NYS Public Health Association for outstanding leadership in public health; and the “2004 Special Recognition Award by Region II Dental Management Coalition” for many years of dedication to the dental profession and relentless pursuit in assuring that all children have the right to receive primary oral health care.
