About

Board of Directors

Caswell A. Evans Jr., DDS, MPH

University of Illinois College of Dentistry: Chair DentaQuest Foundation Board of Directors

Dr. Evans has been at the center of oral health discussions at the national level for the past decade.

Dr. Evans has been at the center of oral health discussions at the national level for the past decade, first as Director of the National Oral Health Initiative within the office of the U.S. Surgeon General where he was Executive Editor and Project Director for Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General, released in May 2000 and the subsequent National Call to Action to Promote Oral Health, released in April 2003. Today, as Associate Dean of Prevention and Public Health Science at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry, and an advisor to the National Interprofessional Oral Health Initiative, Dr. Evans is making sure the next generation of dentists makes oral health part of overall health. A hands-on change agent, Dr. Evans believes education is a key requirement for change. He is currently involved in the modification of curriculum for the University of Chicago’s College of Dentistry, requiring students participate in multiple four-week practicum in local communities and in global underserved areas. He was recognized with the Gies Award for Achievement as a Dental Educator by the Gies Foundation of the American Dental Education Association. Prior work as Director of Public Health Programs and Services in Los Angeles and as Director of the County Division of the Seattle-King County Department of Public Health in Washington State give Dr. Evans local and state-level perspectives. He recently joined the Illinois State Board of Health as well as the Chicago Board of Health. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Ortho S.A. Sprague Institute, a Chicago-based, health-only philanthropy that supports the beginning stages of health-related projects (asthma, childhood obesity, and oral health initiatives). Dr. Evans is a past president of the American Public Health Association, founder of the Association’s Faith Community Caucus, and served on the board of the National Association of County and City Health Officials. He is a founding board member and officer of the U. S. National Oral Health Alliance, a diplomat and past President of the American Board of Dental Public Health and a past President of the American Association of Public Health Dentistry. Dr. Evans joined the DentaQuest Foundation Board in 2009, became Vice Chair in 2011, and Chairman of the Board in 2012.

Mary Vallier-Kaplan, MHSA

Health Philanthropy Consultant

Ms. Kaplan recently retired as the founding Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the Endowment for Health, New Hampshire’s largest health foundation.

Ms. Kaplan recently retired as the founding Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the Endowment for Health, New Hampshire’s largest health foundation. The foundation is well known for its strategic use of exemplary philanthropic practices to create systemic change that improves the overall health of all people especially the vulnerable and underserved. These practices include not only grantmaking, but also investment and participation in advocacy and policy as well as mission related investing. Mary has been an active leader and lecturer with GIH (Grantmakers in Health), GEO (Grantmakers for Effective Organizations) and CEP (Center for Effective Philanthropy).

Under her leadership, the Endowment for Health was one of the first health conversion foundations to focus on oral health systems improvement investing over $6M creating and implementing with others one of the first state oral health plans in the country. This work ranged from developing statewide data collection systems to implementing workforce policy. The Endowment for Health also was a founding member and leader of the Funders Oral Health Policy Group.

Mary has more than 25 years of professional and personal experience in public and community health issues in New Hampshire. Her professional work has focused on system change and new ideas ranging from community health centers to HMOs to hospice and now a new age of health philanthropy. Mary is an honors graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Michigan, School of Public Health. She joined the DentaQuest Foundation Board in 2013.

Robert J. Weyant, MS, DMD, DrPh

University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine

Dr. Weyant is the Associate Dean of Public Health and Outreach as well as Chair and Professor of the Department of Dental Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Weyant is the Associate Dean of Public Health and Outreach as well as Chair and Professor of the Department of Dental Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. He also holds several secondary appointments at the University of Pittsburgh. Since 1987, Dr. Weyant has been a diplomat of the American Board of Dental Public Health and the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Public Health Dentistry since 2008. Dr. Weyant is a Researcher and Principal Investigator on a variety of NIH projects as well as sitting on their National Advisory Dental and Craniofacial Research Council. He is also the Project Director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human services training grant for dental students. In addition, Dr. Weyant works with the American Dental Association as a consultant to the Center for Evidence-based Dentistry. He holds memberships on the Council on Scientific Affairs, Public Health Advisory Committee, the Government Affairs Council of the American Association for Dental Research, and is a member of the Institute of Medicine’s Oral Health Policy committee. He is a former U.S. Navy Dental Officer. Dr. Weyant received his master’s and dental degrees from the University of Pittsburgh and his doctorate from the University of Michigan. Dr. Weyant joined the DSM Board in 2014.

Kathleen Betts

ModusLink ModusLink Global Solutions

Ms. Betts is the Chief Human Resources Officer of ModusLink ModusLink Global Solutions where she leads the company’s global Human Resources practice.

Ms. Betts is the Chief Human Resources Officer of ModusLink ModusLink Global Solutions where she leads the company’s global Human Resources practice. Prior to ModusLink, Kathy held leadership roles in Human Resources at Novell, Stratus Technologies, Lightbridge and Peritus Software, Inc. Earlier in her career, Kathleen worked in human resources management at the Kendall Company as well as the University Hospital at BU Medical Center in Boston, MA and Magee Womens Hospital of UPMC in Pittsburgh, PA. Prior to her work in human resources, Ms. Betts was the director of social services and clinical social worker for a major outpatient health affiliate of UMass Medical School. Ms. Betts is a member of the Boston Club, the Human Resources Leadership Forum and the Society for Human Resources Management. She is also a director and chair of the Compensation Committee at Ellis Memorial in Boston. Ms. Betts has an undergraduate degree with honors and an MSW from Boston College.