Our Board

Brianna Muñoz, DMD, MPH

President

Dr. Brianna Muñoz is a board-certified pediatric dentist who recently started her own business in Avon, Connecticut, Twinkle Tooth Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Muñoz obtained her doctorate in dental medicine from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine at which time she was inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) National Dental Honor Society. She completed a residency in pediatric dentistry at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (CCMC) and concurrently attained her Master of Public Health (MPH) degree along with a Certificate of Interdisciplinary Disability Studies through a HRSA Dual Degree Training Program. For outstanding achievement in the field of applied public health sciences, Dr. Muñoz was awarded the Mulvihill Medal for Academic and Research Excellence.

On behalf of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), Dr. Muñoz serves as the Connecticut Public Policy Advocate, the Connecticut Political Action Committee Champion, the Region 1 Representative for the Pediatric Dental Medicaid & CHIP Advisory Committee of the Council on Government Affairs, and the Legislative Representative for the Connecticut Society of Pediatric Dentists (CSPD). Through the American Dental Association (ADA), Dr. Muñoz has represented District 1 as a Delegate for the ADA House of Delegates and has been recognized nationally as a 2024 10 Under 10 Award Recipient.

With an avid interest in oral health advocacy, Dr. Muñoz first volunteered with COHI as a public health intern. Soon after, she was appointed to the COHI Board of Directors and is proud to now be serving as President of the organization. In 2020, Dr. Muñoz was presented with the COHI Oral Health Champion Award in recognition of the instrumental role that she played in the advocacy campaign to expand the period in which Connecticut youth may retain dental insurance coverage on a parent’s policy to age 26. Throughout the years, Dr. Muñoz has advocated on behalf of oral health equity for all of Connecticut residents. Get to know Dr. Muñoz here.

Roberta Friedman, SM

Vice President

As Director of Public Policy at the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University and the University of Connecticut from 2007 to 2015, she played a major role in developing strategies, educating policy makers and public health advocates, and enlisting public support for fighting obesity through policies such as taxing sugar-sweetened beverages, improving school nutrition, and curbing the marketing of junk foods to children. Her work included writing policy briefs and toolkits, serving as a technical assistant to legislative staff, providing expert testimony for legislative committees, serving as a member of the Connecticut State Task Force on Childhood Obesity Prevention, and coordinating a major grant on advocacy and policy for healthy beverages.

Jean J. Schensul, PhD
Secretary

Jean J. Schensul is a medical anthropologist and senior scientist at The Institute for Community Research, in Hartford, Connecticut. Dr. Schensul is most notable for her research on HIV/AIDS prevention and other health-related research in the United States, as well as her extensive writing on ethnographic research methods. She has made notable contributions to the field of applied anthropology, with her work on structural interventions to health disparities leading to the development of new organizations, community research partnerships, and community/university associations. Schensul’s work has been dedicated to community-based research on topics such as senior health, education, and substance abuse, among others. Get to know Dr. Schensul here.

Christina Emery

Treasurer

Christina Emery is a seasoned nonprofit executive with over two decades of leadership in public health, advocacy, and community development. As Executive Director of Brooker Memorial, she oversees pediatric dental services, early childhood education, and family support programs, with a strong focus on health equity and access to care. Christina brings extensive experience in strategic planning, fundraising, and policy advocacy, particularly in oral health and HUSKY reimbursement reform. Her career reflects a deep commitment to improving outcomes for underserved populations across Connecticut. Christina also serves in leadership roles with the Rotary Club, Hartford Healthcare, and the Torrington Development Corporation.

Trisha Pitter, MS
Director

Trisha Pitter serves as Vice President of the Board at the Connecticut Oral Health Initiative (COHI), bringing over two decades of experience advancing health equity through community engagement, learning experience design, and systems-level advocacy. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention E-Learning Fellow and Director of Community Learning and Engagement at the UConn Health Disparities Institute (HDI), she leads the creation of innovative, human-centered learning solutions that elevate community voices and translate complex public health challenges into accessible, action-oriented initiatives.

A bridge builder at heart, she fosters authentic connections between communities and institutions, ensuring collaboration and co-creation flow in both directions. Her work reflects a deep commitment to equitable care, culturally responsive education, and community-led transformation across Connecticut. Get to know Ms. Pitter here.

Leslie Bumpus, DDS

Director

Dr. Leslie Bumpus is a dentist working for the Department of Corrections, with a passion for providing care to underserved populations. She earned her Doctorate of Dental Surgery from New York University in 2017 and holds Master's Degrees in Bimolecular Sciences and Public Health. Dr. Bumpus serves on the executive board of the 1199 union, where she advocates for workers' rights and healthcare equity. She has engaged in legislative advocacy to expand healthcare services for incarcerated individuals. Her professional focus centers on promoting oral health access and reducing health disparities for vulnerable populations. She also completed a fellowship with the Department of Public Health's Office of Oral Health to further address systemic health inequities.

Rachel Green, RDH, M.Ed

Director

Rachel Green is a Registered Dental Hygienist and a Professor of Dental Hygiene at CT State Tunxis Community College. Rachel has 15 years’ experience as a clinical practice hygienist and 13 years teaching in higher education. She is a member of the American Dental Hygienist Association (ADHA) and the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). She has served as an advisor of the student chapters of the ADHA and the American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD) at CT State Tunxis. Rachel has sat on the Tunxis Dental Advisory Board since 2017.

Rachel has spent her career promoting oral health and working with some of our most underserved residents in Connecticut. Teaching the Community Oral Health courses at CT State Tunxis, she understands the importance of community outreach and the power of advocacy to promote change. Rachel has formed numerous partnerships within the community affording her and her students the opportunity to volunteer and provide oral health services across the state.

Frank Amaefuna, DMD, MPH

Director

Dr. Frank Amaefuna earned his bachelor’s in Molecular and Cell Biology before beginning dental school at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. He later completed an MPH in Health Policy at Yale, centering on overdose-prevention work in Connecticut. His interest in health innovation led him to work at xAI as a medical specialist refining healthcare-focused AI models and to serve as Chief Marketing Officer at Tubee, a company creating safer, development-focused infant care products. Frank is now a resident at St. Francis Hospital, serves on the CSDA advocacy committee, sits on COHI’s executive board, and volunteers with the Haven Free Clinic and AHEC.

Megan Baker

Director

Megan Baker is a graduate of Southern Connecticut State University where she earned BAs in Political Science and History, while minoring in English with a concentration in Literature, as well as her Master’s in Political Science (MPS).

Megan’s expertise lies in civic and electoral impact research. In her current capacity, she pairs her expertise in mixed-methods research and public policy to drive legislative initiatives for Asian American Pacific Islanders across Connecticut. She is deeply committed to telling their stories through data equity and inclusion.

In addition to her work at the Connecticut General Assembly, Megan is also an adjunct instructor at the University of New Haven’s Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences. Her course focuses on engaging college students in questions and ideas centered around public service.

Howard I. Mark, DMD

Board Member Emeritus & Co-Founder

Howie’s leadership in organizing COHI resulted in CT’s first Early Childhood Caries Symposium in 1999. Under his leadership, COHI made major contributions to advocacy efforts that had positive outcomes for oral health for underserved children and families. Howie, is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, retired from teaching at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. He is a member and has received recognition from the American Dental Association, CT State Dental Association, Pierre Fauchard Academy, the American Assoc. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, and the Yankee Dental Congress for his outstanding service and numerous contributions to oral health. Get to know Dr. Mark here.