We have some exciting news to share! RDHAP Connect’s founder, Elena Francisco, MSDH, RDHAP was appointed a member of the Board of Directors of the California State Rural Health Association. We are so proud of her! She has devoted her life to being a voice for oral health care in California. She believes oral health is integral to general health and is not stressed enough in conversation and policy. 

 Elena Francisco is the program director of the Pacific Dugoni RDHAP program. She is a consultant with the Pacific Center for Equity in Oral Health Care also at Pacific Dugoni. She has been active in dental hygiene for over 47 years, practicing in San Joaquin County. She taught dental hygiene at Pacific Dugoni for fourteen years and has been an RDHAP since 2006. She received her Master’s degree from Idaho State University. She has volunteered over the years with Give Kids a Smile.

Elena is involved with researching the statistics, and needs, and works to help meet the oral health care needs of those in rural areas. She strives to partner with healthcare providers and policymakers statewide. 

Congrats to Elena! We know she will represent the California State Rural /health Association very well!