Cheryl L. Albright, PhD, MPH

Dr. Cheryl L. Albright is a distinguished professor, researcher, and public health advocate in the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene at the University of Hawaii at Mnoa. With a career that bridges clinical practice, epidemiology, health services research, and community engagement, she has become a nationally recognized leader in oral health equity and healthcare delivery for vulnerable populations.

Academic Background

Dr. Albright earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the University of Hawaii at Mnoa, followed by a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of Hawaiis John A. Burns School of Medicine. She completed her doctoral studies in Public Health (PhD) at the University of Washington, where her dissertation focused on the social determinants of oral health among lowincome children.

Professional Appointments

• Professor, Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, University of Hawaii at Mnoa.
• CoDirector, Center for Oral Health Research and Policy (COHRP).
• Associate Dean for Research, School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene.
• Adjunct Faculty, Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Research Focus

Dr. Albrights research portfolio is broad yet interconnected, encompassing:

• Oral Health Disparities: Investigating how socioeconomic status, geography, and cultural factors influence dental disease prevalence.
• CommunityBased Interventions: Designing and evaluating schoolbased sealant programs and mobile dental clinics that serve rural and underserved Hawaiian communities.
• HealthCare Workforce Development: Studying the impact of interprofessional education on collaborative practice between nurses, dental hygienists, and physicians.
• Policy Analysis: Examining Medicaid reimbursement policies and their effects on access to preventive dental care.
• Implementation Science: Applying frameworks such as the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to translate evidencebased oral health interventions into routine practice.

Key Grants and Projects

Over the past decade, Dr. Albright has secured funding from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Hawaii State Department of Health. Notable projects include:

• Hawaii Healthy Smiles Initiative A multiyear, $4.2million grant to expand community sealant placement and oral health education in elementary schools across the islands.
• Pacific Islander Oral Health Equity Study A collaborative research effort with the University of California, San Diego, investigating oral health outcomes among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
• Implementation of TeleDental Services in Rural Clinics A pilot program evaluating the feasibility of remote dental consultations for patients in Kauai and Molokai.

Publications and Scholarly Impact

Dr. Albright has authored more than 80 peerreviewed journal articles, book chapters, and conference proceedings. Her work has been cited over 2,300 times, reflecting a strong influence on both academic discourse and practical policy. Selected recent publications include:

1. Albright CL, etal. Effectiveness of SchoolBased Sealant Programs on Caries Reduction in LowIncome Children. Journal of Dental Research, 2023.
2. Albright CL, etal. Barriers to Dental Care Utilization Among Medicaid Enrollees in Hawaii. Health Services Research, 2022.
3. Albright CL, etal. Integrating Oral Health into Primary Care: A MixedMethods Study. American Journal of Public Health, 2021.

Awards and Honors

• American Dental Association (ADA) Distinguished Scientist Award, 2024.
• University of Hawaii at Mnoa Distinguished Faculty Award, 2022.
• National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) Mentorship Award, 2021.
• Hawaii Health Foundation Community Impact Award, 2020.

Teaching and Mentorship

As an educator, Dr. Albright teaches graduate courses in epidemiology, health services research, and oral health policy. She is known for her interactive teaching style and for incorporating realworld case studies drawn from her own research. Dr. Albright actively mentors undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students, many of whom have gone on to secure their own research funding and faculty positions.

Community Engagement

Beyond academia, Dr. Albright collaborates closely with local health departments, tribal councils, and nonprofit organizations. She cochairs the Hawaii Oral Health Coalition, a statewide partnership that advocates for policy changes, such as expanding fluoride varnish coverage under Medicaid. Through community health fairs, school presentations, and media outreach, she strives to make oral health information accessible to all Hawaiians.

Future Directions

Looking ahead, Dr. Albright plans to expand her work on teledental platforms, especially in the wake of lessons learned during the COVID19 pandemic. She is also developing a longitudinal cohort study to track oral health outcomes from early childhood into adulthood among Pacific Islander families, aiming to generate data that can inform culturally tailored interventions.

Contact Information

University of Hawaii at Mnoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene
308 Aloha Hall, 2529 Campus Road
Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
Email: calbright@hawaii.edu
Phone: +1 (808) 9561234
School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene website