Shayla Stewart, MPA, BSHS, RDH
Shayla Stewart, MPA, BSHS, RDH is an accomplished Education and Leadership Specialist, Health Equity Advocate, and Adjunct Faculty Instructor based in Xenia, Ohio. Since graduating as a Registered Dental Hygienist in 2007, Shayla has cultivated a deep passion for oral health and public health, believing that dentistry, even in the private sector, is a form of public health and that dental hygienists are natural health educators. Throughout her career, she has consistently volunteered and engaged with organizations serving communities in need, recognizing early on that healthcare is a human right and that dental care is essential to overall wellness.
Approximately 15 years into her career, Shayla pursued further education to expand her impact, earning a Bachelor of Health Science degree and, most recently, a Master of Public Administration with an emphasis on health equity from Northern Kentucky University. Her advanced studies, combined with her clinical experience, positioned her uniquely to address the systemic disparities she observed in healthcare. This journey led her to the American Institute on Disparities in Public Health (AIDPH), where she serves as an Education and Leadership Specialist. As the sole clinician on a team of public health professionals, Shayla bridges the gap between policy and practice, ensuring initiatives are not only well-designed on paper but are practical, patient-centered, and effective in improving access to care for underserved populations.
In addition to her leadership work, Shayla is an adjunct faculty instructor at UC Blue Ash College, where she teaches dental hygiene students both clinical skills and public health principles, emphasizing holistic, whole-person care. Beyond the classroom, she remains deeply involved in community outreach, volunteerism, and advocacy, including work with The Borgen Project and YWCA Dayton. Shayla’s professional mission is driven by a commitment to closing healthcare gaps, empowering communities through education, and advancing health equity so that all individuals—regardless of circumstance—can access the care they need to thrive.
• Registered Dental Hygienist
• Leadership in the Public Sector Graduate Micro-Credential
• Trauma Informed Care
• Advocacy Training
• OAESV Training
• OSHA and HIPAA Trained
• CPR for Healthcare Provider
• Local Anesthesia License
• Dental Hygiene License
• Shawnee State University - AS, Dental Hygiene/Hygienist
• Shawnee State University - BS, Health Science
• Northern Kentucky University - MPA
• Golden Scaler Award for Dental Hygiene
• Recognition from Ohio Dental Hygienists Association (2010)
• Ohio Dental Hygienists Association
• American Institute on Disparities in Public Health
• Journey League (basketball program for people living with disabilities)
• JourneyU (nonprofit supporting people with disabilities after high school)
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a combination of longstanding volunteer work and deep community involvement, my clinical experience as a dental hygienist, and the advanced education I have pursued in health science and public administration. These experiences have allowed me to develop a comprehensive understanding of healthcare from both a practical and policy perspective, while my persistent passion for addressing disparities in the healthcare system has driven me to create meaningful change for underserved populations.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to embrace challenges as opportunities to innovate and make an impact. While working in small nonprofits with limited capacity and funding, and navigating the misconception that dental hygienists are “just” clinical providers rather than public health professionals, I learned to leverage my clinical experience to create meaningful change. I focus on opportunities such as driving state-level policy change through data-informed initiatives, expanding educational programming for clinicians and leaders, and translating clinical insight into practical, implementable policies that improve access, equity, and outcomes in healthcare.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I believe that healthcare is a human right, and that includes dental care, which is whole body health. I've always had a passion for helping people and working with communities that are in need. I just really wanted to help change the disparities in our healthcare system and close those gaps for people that really struggle. I believe in celebrating uniqueness and not trying to fit in, because if you're working hard to fit in somewhere, then that means you're not being you, and that's just not fair to anyone. We like to celebrate all those unique qualities of everyone. I think difference is a great thing, and being unique means you're being yourself.
Locations
The American Institute on Disparities in Public Health
Xenia, OH 45385