June 5, 2020, Alexandria, Va., USA – The International Association for Dental Research (IADR) and the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) are deeply concerned by the administration’s decision to terminate the United States relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO).
IADR and AADR are firm believers in the importance of international scientific collaboration. It is through engagement and robust partnerships with peers around the world that we can more effectively advance knowledge and promote resources that will lead to better health for all.
Withdrawing from the WHO—and doing so during a global health pandemic—carries multiple risks, including disconnecting the United States from vital sources of information and intelligence, separating the country from collective global response efforts, and signaling to the rest of the world that the United States is not committed to cooperating on international public health issues.
Further, the United States withdrawal from the WHO has the potential to significantly weaken the institution and its ability to respond to public health priorities or future pandemics. Given the global nature of health issues, such as pandemics, U.S. removal from the organization will risk the health of people throughout the world.
The IADR is one of two oral health-based non-governmental organizations in official relations with the WHO and works closely with the WHO Oral Health Program to help achieve its mission of driving dental, oral, and craniofacial research for health and well-being worldwide.
IADR and AADR urge the administration to reconsider its decision to terminate the U.S. relationship with the WHO and to consider the long-term impact that this decision will have on U.S. health and global health.
About the International Association for Dental Research
The International Association for Dental Research (IADR) is a nonprofit organization with over 10,000 individual members worldwide, with a Mission to drive dental, oral and craniofacial research to advance health and well-being worldwide. To learn more, visit www.iadr.org. The American Association for Dental Research (AADR) is the largest Division of IADR with 3,100 members in the United States. To learn more, visit www.iadr.org/aadr.
About the American Association for Dental Research
The American Association for Dental Research (AADR) is a nonprofit organization with nearly 3,500 individual members dedicated to: (1) advancing research and increasing knowledge for the improvement of oral health, (2) supporting and representing the oral health research community, and (3) facilitating the communication and application of research findings. AADR is the largest Division of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR). To learn more, visit www.iadr.org/aadr.