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Meeting of the Board of Regents | May 2010

Monday, May 17, 2010 - 11:40pm

TO:

The Honorable the Members of the Board of Regents

FROM:

Frank Muñoz

SUBJECT:

Appointment to the Position of Executive Secretary, State Boards for Dentistry and Optometry

DATE:

May 17, 2010

STRATEGIC GOAL:

Goal 3

AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

Summary

Issue for Decision

Should the Regents approve the appointment of Dolores Cottrell-Carson, D.D.S., M.S.H.A. as Executive Secretary to the State Boards for Dentistry and Optometry?   

Reason(s) for Consideration

Required by State statute.



Proposed Handling

This recommendation was discussed by the Board of Regents at its executive session during the May Regents meeting.  It is now being brought before the full Board for final action at the Board’s public session in May.

Procedural History

Section 6603 of the Education Law requires the Board of Regents to appoint an Executive Secretary to the State Board for Dentistry. Section 7103 of the Education Law requires the Board of Regents to appoint an Executive Secretary to the State Board for Optometry. The State professional boards advise and assist the Regents and the Department on matters of professional licensing and professional conduct.


Background Information

Dolores Cottrell-Carson has over 20 years of clinical and administrative experience in the community/public health field. While her focus has been on public health dentistry, she spent eight years in private practice and understands the needs of the private practitioner. She has clearly demonstrated a high degree of professionalism and self-motivation in obtaining her education in dentistry and in her practice of dentistry.

           Dr. Cottrell-Carson received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from the Catholic University of America in 1983 and a Doctorate in Dental Surgery from the Howard University College of Dentistry in 1988. She completed her dental intern residency at D.C. General Hospital in 1989. In addition, she received her Masters of Science Degree in Health Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2002, which afforded her with a broad view of the healthcare system. She served as a New York State Dental Public Health Resident with the New York State Department of Health Dental Bureau in 2003. Her residency provided her with in-depth experience working with children, persons with disabilities and the economically disadvantaged. In addition, she worked on projects that included legislative awareness, advocacy for children’s dental needs, and the analysis of innovative dental delivery programs, and she participated in a variety of dental health programs focused on the needs of special population groups.

            From 1988 to 1994, Dr. Cottrell-Carson worked in clinical practices providing all phases of dentistry. From 1994 to 2000, she worked as the Director for Quality of Life Health Services, Inc. a federally qualified community health center where she conducted active dental health programs, prepared and revised written dental protocols, and provided services in many other areas of dental care.  From 2000 to 2002, she served as the Director of the Sealant and Chronically Ill and Aged (CIA) Programs at the Jefferson County Department of Health in Birmingham Alabama. From 2003 to 2006, she served as Senior Dental Attending Staff at Rochester General Hospital where she provided dental services to seniors as well as all other phases of general dentistry to the general population. In 2006 to 2007, she was the Faculty and Site Director at Strong Health, University of Rochester’s Eastman Dental Center.

            Currently, Dr. Cottrell-Carson serves as the Dental Director of the Anthony L. Jordan Community Health Center. In this capacity, she monitors system performance to ensure proper operation, identify possible problem areas, and recommend solutions; supervises dental personnel; analyzes data and reports.  She is also the Assistant Director for the New York State Oral Technical Assistance Center in Rochester. The center is actively involved in improving access to dental care to the underserved and enhancing communication and educational capacity regarding oral health.


Recommendation

It is recommended that the Regents approve the appointment of Dolores Cottrell-Carson, D.D.S., M.S.H.A. as Executive Secretary to the State Boards for Dentistry and Optometry.

Timetable for Implementation

If the Regents approve the recommendation, the appointment will be effective May 21, 2010.