A Commitment to Service in Public Health & Policy

Dr. Zachary Brian is a dentist, oral health policy leader, teacher, and researcher striving for health equity through effective leadership and advocacy. He is a Kentucky native but lives in North Carolina serving as Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry in the Division of Pediatric & Public Health, where he also directs the Dentistry in Service to Community (DISC) program. At UNC, Dr. Brian is also developing equity-focused oral health policy initiatives to prepare the next generation of oral health care providers for engagement in policy advocacy.

The former Vice President of Impact, Strategy, & Programs at the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation (FHLI) and Director of the North Carolina Oral Health Collaborative (NCOHC), Dr. Brian led multiple initiatives to expand access and increase equity in oral health care throughout North Carolina. Previously serving as Dental Director for two Federally Qualified Health Centers, he also advises small to midsize public health entities.

A sought-after speaker, Dr. Brian delivers keynotes and facilitates panels focused on oral health policy, dental-medical integration, the oral-systemic connection, adaptive leadership, and health systems science. A passionate educator, Dr. Brian maintains an adjunct faculty appointment at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health in addition to his primary, full-time appointment at the dental school.

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