Jayanth Kumar, DDS, MPH
State Dental Director, California Department of Public Health
Jayanth Kumar, DDS, MPH, is retiring from his role as state dental director at the California Department of Public Health after nearly nine years of service. He has made oral health a priority as California's state dental director since his appointment by former Gov. Jerry Brown in 2015. He has collaborated with partners to develop the State Oral Health Plan, addressing disease prevention and access to dental care with innovative solutions such as community water fluoridation, school-based interventions, and professional training programs.