Sarah Sherman, MCJ

Director of Strategic Partnerships, Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services

Sarah A. Sherman serves as the Director of Strategic Partnerships of the Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services. She earned a B.A. in English with a minor in Behavioral Science, with Honors, from the University of Maine at Augusta, and a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Boston University. Sherman co-wrote the Bureau’s award-winning submissions for the 2019 and 2020 VA Abraham Lincoln Pillar of Excellence for the Bureau’s work to end veteran homelessness and co-founded the Maine Justice Action Committee which works to better advocacy for justice affected veterans.  

In 2020, Sherman conducted a six-month needs assessment, “Oral Health Access for Maine’s Veterans, which lead to the formation of the Maine Veterans’ Dental Network in 2021, and the creation of this continuing education module, Addressing Veterans’ Oral Health Needs.” In 1996, Sherman founded her own publishing house, Cozy Harbor Press, Inc., and has since self-published eight books (four are Maine Veterans’ histories). She is the daughter of a World War Two Combat Veteran who was Purple Heart decorated and has spent the last 25 years documenting veterans’ stories and advocating for them.

Leonard Brennan, DMD

Dr. Leonard Brennan, DMD, is Co-Director of Harvard School of Dental Medicine's Geriatric FellowshipProgram, apart-time clinical instructor in their Department of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology andcollaborates with Harvard's Departments of Integrative Medicine and Global Health. He is also the Geriatric Adviser and Lead for Harvard's "National Center for Equitable Care for Elders," Mentor and Geriatric Specialist and Lead for Harvard's "Nurse Practioner-Dental Interprofessional Model," Mentor, Instructor, and a Geriatric Specialist for Harvard's "Oral Health Workforce for Rural and Vulnerable Populations",and Geriatric Lead and Instructor for "Predoctoral Oral Health Education and Training foran Aging America."

Since its beginning, Dr. Brennan has participated in developing, organizing, and teaching within the MOTIVATE program. He passionately believes that education is powerful medicine. Additionally, he practiced general dentistry in Portland, Maine, for almost forty years.

Dr. Brennan completed a Harvard University Geriatric Dental Research and Teaching Fellowship Programand was recognized for his post-doctoral work at Harvard as the recipient of the Dr. James Dunning Award for excellence in biomedical research and teaching. He completed a second post-doctoral fellowship in Medicine and Palliative Care at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York and is a graduate of the American Society on Aging Leadership Institute. Nationally, Dr. Brennan has presented many lectures onolder adult oral health for many organizations, including the American Society on Aging, the Federal Qualified Health Centers, the American Dental Association, the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, and presenter at the 2022 Health and Aging Policy Fellowship in Washington DC.

CNN Money magazine recognized Dr. Brennan with the 2014 "Hero Award" for his work with the elderlyand other fragile individuals.

Wendy L. Alpaugh, DMD

Wendy L. Alpaugh, D.M.D. Tufts University-School of Dental Medicine, Medical Center Hospital of Vermont - General Practice Residency, Private Practice General Dentistry-Stonington, Maine, Volunteer Faculty UMA -Bangor Dental Hygiene School, ADA, MDA, HCDS; MOHC steering committee.

Disclosure Summary of Relevant Financial Relationships

The following planners and/or their spouse/partner have reported no relevant financial relationship with a commercial interest:

Wendy L. Alpaugh, DMD
Leonard Brennan, DMD
Sarah Sherman, MJC

The following speakers and/or their spouse/partner have reported no relevant financial relationship with a commercial interest:

Leonard Brennan, DMD