FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For additional information, contact:
Ashley Quackenbush, MPH, CHES
Senior Director, Education and Marketing
(404) 789-3155
[email protected]

March 29, 2024 (ATLANTA) — The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) is thrilled to announce the 19th annual Dr. John S. Zapp Lecturer for the 2024 Annual Conference, set to take place May 30 – June 1 at the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa in Tucson, Arizona.

This year, OSAP is honored to welcome Lois Cohen, PhD, a consultant and advisor of several U.S. and international organizations such as the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization, as the 2024 Dr. John S. Zapp Lecturer. With an illustrious career spanning over 60 years, Dr. Cohen brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the conference, promising to inspire and enlighten participants from various backgrounds.

Dr. Cohen began her career with a Ph.D. in sociology, joining what is now the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. As a social scientist, she became part of a small team that gave rise to the field of social and behavioral science research in dentistry. Dr. Cohen retired in 2006 after serving as associate director for international health at the NIDCR, director of the division of extramural research and the assistant director for International Health, National Institute of Dental Research (NIDR), National Institutes of Health, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Throughout her career, Dr. Cohen coordinated and facilitated all intramural and extramural international research activities, as well as staff involvement in multi-lateral, bilateral and organizational representation abroad. She served as the Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Dental & Craniofacial Research, which was established in 1980 under the umbrella of the NIDR, and renamed NIDCR in 1998. She co-directed the first large-scale international collaborative studies of oral health systems with the late Dr. David E. Barmes, and co-chaired the former Friends of OSAP (formed in 2006) with Nancy Tomich Zapp.

Dr. Cohen currently serves on the Boards of several organizations, including the Edw. B. Shils Entrepreneurial Fund and the Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders and on the advisory groups for the Center for Integrative Global Oral Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and as a member of the External International Advisory Group for the Global Health Research Programme on Oral Health, funded by the National Institute of Health Research in the United Kingdom.

Participants of the 2024 OSAP Annual Conference can look forward to Dr. Cohen's keynote address, where she will reflect on the past 40 years of oral healthcare and OSAP's impact.

“We are honored to have Dr. Cohen as this year’s Zapp Lecturer, especially as OSAP celebrates its 40th anniversary," said OSAP Executive Director Michelle Lee. "With her unparalleled expertise and her passion for our organization, Dr. Cohen will deliver an inspiring keynote that resonates with new and founding members alike.”

OSAP encourages clinicians, educators, researchers, consultants, trainers, compliance directors, policymakers, and industry representatives from the oral healthcare community to attend the 2024 Annual Conference and benefit from the invaluable insights shared by Dr. Cohen and other distinguished presenters.

For more information about the 2024 Annual Conference, including registration details and complete lineup of speakers, visit osapconference.org.

About OSAP
The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) is the only nonprofit membership association for oral healthcare professionals that focuses exclusively on infection prevention and patient and provider safety. OSAP’s mission is to be the leading provider of infection prevention and control education, training, and credentialing that supports safe dental visits. For additional information, visit osap.org.

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