16 April 2026

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CareQuest Appoints New Chief Clinical Officer

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CareQuest Institute for Oral Health® today announced the appointment of An Nguyen, DDS, MPH, as its new Chief Clinical Officer. Dr. Nguyen joins CareQuest Institute from Colorado-based Clinica Family Health and Wellness, where she has served as Chief Dental Officer since 2010.

As Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Nguyen will be a key member of the executive leadership team, working closely with the CEO to drive clinical strategy and advance CareQuest Institute’s mission to build a more accessible, equitable, and integrated oral health system. She will lead efforts to integrate oral health with overall health, guide enterprise-wide clinical initiatives, and further position CareQuest Institute as a national leader in oral health transformation.

“I have a deep, personal connection to marginalized communities that navigate systems not built for them, and this connection has shaped my belief that advancing health equity and overall well-being makes oral health indispensable,” said Dr. Nguyen. “CareQuest Institute has long driven bold, inclusive change in oral health systems, and I’m honored to join the team’s efforts to build a future where health is a catalyst for opportunity, dignity, and prosperity for every person in every community.”

Dr. Nguyen has dedicated her career to the care of underserved communities and brings nearly two decades of clinical practice and leadership to advancing equitable oral health care, expanding access, and improving outcomes for patients and communities. As Chief Dental Officer at Clinica Family Health and Wellness, she led interdisciplinary care models serving tens of thousands of patients while advancing medical-dental integration and chronic disease management.

“Dr. Nguyen is a highly respected leader whose work spans clinical practice, public health, and systems transformation,” said Wade Rakes, Chief Executive Officer of CareQuest Institute. “She will play a key role in advancing our mission by driving innovation for new and emerging solutions while expanding access to improve oral health nationwide.”

A respected national thought leader, Dr. Nguyen is the immediate past president of the National Network for Oral Health Access and is Chair-Elect of the Dental Quality Alliance. She was appointed by the governor of Colorado to the state’s Department of Health Care Policy and Financing Medical Services Board and previously served on the board of the Caring for Colorado Foundation. She is also active in several national organizations, including the American Association of Public Health Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and the National Association of Community Health Centers, where she contributes to health integration, public health, and policy and advocacy efforts.

Dr. Nguyen holds a Master of Public Health in community health and behavioral science from Saint Louis University and a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Tennessee.

About CareQuest Institute for Oral Health

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit championing a more equitable future where every person can reach their full potential through excellent health. We do this through our work in philanthropy, analytics and data insights, health transformation, policy and advocacy, and education, as well as our leadership in dental benefits and innovation advancements. We collaborate with thought leaders, health care providers, patients, and local, state, and federal stakeholders to accelerate oral health care transformation and create a system designed for everyone.

Source: www.carequest.org