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July 31, 2023
In partnership with thought leaders, health care providers, patients, and local, state, and federal stakeholders, CareQuest Institute of Oral Health champions oral health transformation. Each day is filled with mission-driven, meaningful initiatives that aim to create an oral health system that is accessible, equitable, and integrated. Who leads that work from inside the virtual walls of CareQuest Institute? And why are they so invested in the mission?
From the chief executive officer to the chief legal officer, all of our executive leaders took a quick break from their work to share why they were drawn to this nonprofit, to mention a change they would make to the oral health system, and to provide a snippet of their lives outside of oral health transformation.
Myechia Minter-Jordan, MD, MBA
Chief Executive Officer and President
What brought you to CareQuest Institute?
The mission and the importance of accessible, equitable, and integrated health care are what attracted me to CareQuest Institute. Those basic expectations and principles are important to me as a physician leader. Before I joined CareQuest Institute, I served as chief medical officer and CEO of Dimock Center, one of the largest community health centers in Massachusetts.
What one change to the oral health care system would you make to improve equity and expand access?
Affordability — people who are most in need are marginalized by the lack of affordability of oral health care. Poor coverage or complete lack of coverage for oral health is a significant contributor to inequity and poor access.
What is one thing you’re passionate about outside of work?
I am passionate about health care equity and the eradication of systemic racism and its impact on people of color. As a Black woman, I am committed to ensuring that my community and its leaders have the opportunities afforded to all citizens in a fair and just society. I am a proud founder and board member of the New Commonwealth Fund for Social Justice and Racial Equity.
Leslie Carver, MHA
Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President
What brought you to CareQuest Institute?
I recently joined the organization in May, and I couldn’t have been more excited to join the team! CareQuest Institute is not only elevating the critical importance of oral health, but we are also focusing on the integration of oral health with physical health. The team is passionate about our work to create a more equitable health care system.
What one change to the oral health care system would you make to improve equity and expand access?
Interoperability between electronic medical and dental records. Proliferation of interoperability would allow for social determinants of health, race, and ethnicity data gathered in the medical setting to be better leveraged by oral health providers. Spoken like a true operations person focused on optimization and efficiency!
What is one thing you’re passionate about outside of work?
Now that my kids are older and both are in college, I have more time to devote to playing soccer. I recently started managing the women’s 6 vs. 6 league that I play in, and about a year ago I joined the Bay State Breakers league for full field games with 11 vs. 11 players.
Kaz Rafia, DDS, MBA, MPH
Chief Dental Officer and Executive Vice President of Health Equity
What brought you to CareQuest Institute?
The opportunity to be part of a mission-driven organization and collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the industry brought me to CareQuest Institute.
What one change to the oral health care system would you make to improve equity and expand access?
Affordability of training programs for culturally responsive providers who represent their communities. Examples of those training programs would be dental school, dental hygiene courses, and dental assistance training.
What is one thing you’re passionate about outside of work?
My family. They center me.
Tom Penque
Chief People Officer, Executive Vice President
What brought you to CareQuest Institute?
I was thrilled about the opportunity to advance the people and culture of an amazing, multifaceted, mission-driven enterprise. It’s exciting to partner with colleagues to drive a great place to work as well as work to improve the oral health care of all.
What one change to the oral health care system would you make to improve equity and expand access?
Knowledge and insight. The disparities in access to oral health and the impact of not having a true integrated health care system are not well-known issues or concerns. A broader understanding of the current state of affairs is critical to diagnosing the problem, and advancing solutions is critical.
CareQuest Institute has become the knowledge leader in this space and leveraging its insights to shine a bright light for the path forward.
What is one thing you're passionate about outside of work?
Since I was a kid, I’ve always gravitated to the kitchen. I love to cook and learn about different cuisines and techniques. I’m the happiest when able to share my kitchen and table with family and friends.
Denise W. Marks, MBA, CPA
Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President
What brought you to CareQuest Institute?
My passion for health care as well as my love for innovation. It was a unique opportunity to be part of a nonprofit that operates very much like a startup and build something special and impactful. I retired from a 25+ year career in venture capital and private equity at the end of 2019 and “fell into” an introduction with Myechia. When I met her and learned what CareQuest Institute was trying to do, I couldn’t say no to the opportunity to join as CFO and build the organization and help lead the future strategy.
What one change to the oral health care system would you make to improve equity and expand access?
Integration — to make the patient journey easier and more connected through better care coordination across the full continuum of care and with integration of electronic medical record systems.
What is one thing you’re passionate about outside of work?
I love to cook and try new recipes. I am a real foodie and love the French style of cooking. I love how food connects people, nourishes them, and brings joy. I also love golf and skiing!
Patricia Ma, Esq.
Chief Legal Officer and Executive Vice President
What brought you to CareQuest Institute?
I liked the mission of improving the oral health for all, with a focus on the marginalized and vulnerable population. The importance of having good oral health is often overlooked by this population, and yet it can have such an impact on their lives, from improving overall health to their own and other’s perceptions of them.
What one change to the oral health care system would you make to improve equity and expand access?
Education — education of everyday people, providers, legislators, policymakers, and payors, spoken in the right language to each group so they understand how improving oral health is not just a great idealist goal, but one that has true meaning and impact on health, equity, and economics.
What is one thing you’re passionate about outside of work?
My family. My family creates new dimensions in my life — mostly good, some not so good. It always teaches me something that is interesting and, more often than not, an adventure of some sort (even for as mundane a thing as grocery shopping).
Grandy Cody, MBA
Vice President and Chief of Staff
What brought you to CareQuest Institute?
Coming from nonprofit development to what is now CareQuest Institute, I was excited about being on the other side of the funding, learning a new side of the nonprofit world, and helping evolve impact in underserved communities in different ways. What has kept me here for the past nine years is the amazing work we are doing to create a more accessible, integrated, and equitable oral health care system and the wonderful and talented teams. We are moving the needle, and it’s exciting to be part of the work of such a capable and determined organization.
What one change to the oral health care system would you make to improve equity and expand access?
It’s hard to just pick one because of our approach and need to pull and push many different levers to make it all work together, but I would say one that I am excited about is our ability to lead and/or partner to advocate for protecting and expanding dental benefits (Medicaid and Medicare). Expanding Medicare would be such a BIG win for everyone who will one day be eligible!
What is one thing you’re passionate about outside of work?
I am on a small nonprofit board in MetroWest Massachusetts called Jeff’s Place. They offer free support for grieving children, teens, and families in the MetroWest community by way of support groups, individual counseling, educational training, and crisis intervention. As someone who benefited from similar services after the tragic loss of my mother when I was a child, it’s a mission that is near and dear to me and my immediate family.
You can read more about our executive leadership team and their biographies on carequest.org.