The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) has announced the Integrated Care Summit 2026: Bridging the Gaps to Whole-Person Care, a two-day interprofessional symposium and workshop designed to bring together clinicians and health leaders from multiple disciplines. The event will take place May 15–17 at the Omni Interlocken Resort in Broomfield, Colorado, offering 10.0 live/interactive CE and CME credits.
The summit will convene dental hygienists, dentists, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, behavioral health professionals and public health leaders to address gaps between oral, medical and behavioral health care. CareQuest Institute for Oral Health and Henry Schein are serving as platinum sponsors, with additional backing from industry and nonprofit partners. The American Heart Association’s Healthy Smiles, Healthy Hearts Initiative and the Academy of General Dentistry are also participating as collaborating organizations, reflecting broad interest in advancing integrated care across healthcare sectors.
“Interprofessional collaboration only matters if it happens in practice. Having the American Heart Association and the Academy of General Dentistry participating on this summit with ADHA shows that the commitment to coordinated care is there across disciplines. Now we put it to work,” said Lancette VanGuilder, BS, RDH, ADHA president.
The need for improved integration is underscored by clinical data. Nearly 42% of U.S. adults age 30 and older have periodontal disease, according to CDC data. An updated scientific statement published by the American Heart Association in December 2025 identified growing evidence linking periodontal disease with increased risks of heart attack, stroke, atrial fibrillation and heart failure, while recommending regular dental screenings for high-risk cardiovascular patients. Despite these connections, most medical training programs devote fewer than five hours to oral health education.
Summit programming will include interprofessional care mapping exercises, clinical simulation labs and breakout sessions focused on biomarkers, teledentistry, behavioral health integration and health equity. Attendees will also have access to hands-on experiences in the exhibit hall, including saliva analysis and Oral Fitness Score assessments using Dento’s ORALyzer technology; blood pressure screening simulations through the American Heart Association’s Healthy Smiles, Healthy Hearts Initiative; and A1C point-of-care testing demonstrations at the Henry Schein station.
“We have long advocated for a more holistic, systemic approach to healthcare—one that prioritizes prevention and wellness across medical, dental, and mental health—because it delivers a win-win-win: healthier patients, stronger families, and lower costs for society,” said Pam Richter, Director, Corporate Affairs at Henry Schein. “With growing evidence linking oral health to systemic conditions, dental hygienists are uniquely positioned to advance integrated care by leading prevention, identifying early risk, and bridging oral and overall health. Events like the ADHA’s Integrated Care Summit serve as an important platform for advancing collaboration, creating awareness, and accelerating the adoption of an improved form of integrated care.”
Additional programming elements include morning fitness classes, guided mindfulness sessions and wellness-focused networking breaks, aligning with the summit’s emphasis on whole-person health.
“Addressing complex challenges like integrated care requires intense collaboration from across the health care ecosystem,” said Katie D’Amico, Vice President of Growth & Innovation at CareQuest. “We are proud to support the ADHA as a convenor for the important conversations that turn insights into action and ultimately deliver better patient outcomes.”
The event is dual accredited for dental professionals through the American Academy of Dental Hygiene and for medical professionals through the ACCME, ACPE and ANCC, with joint accreditation provided by ADCES. More information is available at adha.org/ICS26.
