Dr. Priyadarshini Agrawal

The CDA Foundation’s board of directors plays a vital role in fulfilling our mission. The board’s guidance leads ongoing efforts to support dental professionals, reduce barriers to care and improve Californians’ oral health through volunteerism and funding. Get to know Priyadarshini Agrawal, DMD, a member of the board.

Inspired by service

As a child, Dr. Agrawal had a deep admiration for people who helped others through their work, which inspired her to pursue a career in dentistry. After graduating from dental school in India, she immigrated to the United States, where she completed the International Dentist Program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. Following a yearlong residency in New York, she was drawn to pursue public health dentistry due to its emphasis on service, access and equity. Throughout her career, she has worked in various public health settings across California and Oregon, serving as the dental director at two federally qualified health centers. 

Serving California with purpose

Agrawal first became involved with the CDA Foundation as an early-career dentist. She was inspired by the Foundation’s mission to care for California’s most vulnerable citizens through clinical care, education, health and wellness initiatives, grants and workforce programs. She shared, “Each one of these initiatives would be something to be proud of, and that we are working on all of them struck me as truly amazing.”

Encouraging involvement and advocacy

When asked what she would tell her peers or the public about access to care, she emphasized that it impacts everyone. When individuals do not receive the care they need in a timely manner, their health can deteriorate. This deterioration may lead to emergency room visits and hospital stays, contributing to overcrowding and delays in care.  “Oral health care is a significant part of this, so each of us should do what we can to assure that adequate access to care is a reality for everyone, whether that’s volunteering in community clinics, participating in advocacy efforts or contributing to the campaigns of government officials who support improving access,” said Agrawal.