Words Matter
I like noodling on phrases and finding succinct, engaging ways to write content. I prefer planned words because editing is my favorite. My writing experience includes trade publications, proposals, annual reports, feature articles, contributed Op-Eds, press releases, websites, social posts, thought leadership and research findings.
Words matter; I’m reminded of that every day. Words can bring us together. They can cause a divide and disconnect us too, even when people have the best intentions. That truth has never been clearer to me than on my journey to explain “oral health equity.” I internalized the responsibility to be accurate and authentic in our communications.
How the Red Rocks of Utah Keep Calling Me Back
The untouched wilderness of southeastern Utah was a place I wanted to explore once I read Edward Abbey’s Desert Solitaire in college. I craved drowning in the expanse of the desert and I worried it was disappearing, since Abbey already claimed it to be gone in 1968.
A Window into Health Disparities
As a child, my parents ensured I went to the dentist twice a year. I was lucky enough to have braces and all of my professional employment opportunities have provided access to dental insurance. It’s a privilege to have that coverage, but it shouldn’t be.
A Healthy Smile for All
Not everyone is served by the traditional dental insurance system. One out of three Coloradans lack dental insurance. Some can’t afford insurance; others face geographic barriers to care that make it hard to choose to pay for coverage. Some simply don’t prioritize dental care.
Colorado Kids Leading the Way with Healthy Choices
17,000 people live within the 1.5 square-mile Westwood neighborhood in Denver. Westwood is home to 6,500 children, 39% of its residents. That’s more than the 21% in Denver overall. Asaph Quintana is one of these kids.