HIV Testing in Dental Care Settings with Dr. Anthony Santella

Dr. Anthony Santella, Assistant Professor of Health Professions and Public Health at Hofstra University, spoke with Dr. John O’Keefe about an HIV testing tool that could be used in the dental practice. Dr. Santella also spoke about the pertinence of his research and the reason why his team chose to test it with oral health care providers.

Anthony Santella, DrPH, MPH, MCHES is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Professions and Public Health and teaches in the Master of Public Health and Health Profession programs.Dr. Santella’s post-doctoral experience includes Director of HIV Policy, Planning and Implementation at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; Assistant Professor and Master of Public Health Program Director at the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University and Lecturer of HIV, STIs and Sexual Health at the University of Sydney in Australia.

Dr. Santella is a public health scientist and health services researcher specializing in HIV and STI prevention and sexual health. His research interests include exploring the role of dental professionals (dentists and dental hygienists), community pharmacists and health educators in conducting rapid HIV and STI testing. This research takes place in the U.S., Australia, India, China and Vietnam. Additionally, he has done work in the sexual health of suburban men who have sex with men (MSM). Dr. Santella has received grants from the Foundation, University, and Government sectors and has presented his work at local, national and international conferences. He is also a reviewer for several public health and HIV journals.