The American Academy of Periodontology Foundation has announced the launch of the Levi-Richman Integration Initiative, a $2.5 million program dedicated to advancing understanding of the link between oral and systemic health. Despite decades of research connecting periodontal disease to conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, awareness remains low among physicians and the public. The initiative aims to close this gap through research, education, and advocacy, highlighting periodontal health as a critical component of overall well-being.
Named for founding donors Patty and Dr. Paul Levi and Dr. Colin Richman, the initiative will fund interdisciplinary research, expand existing grant programs, and support education for dental, medical, and allied health professionals. It will also collaborate with partner organizations, including Europe’s SEPA Foundation, to host global symposia and educational events. The program launches with nearly $2 million in philanthropic support from the Levi and Richman families and over 100 donors, alongside $250,000 from PDS Health, which will collaborate on research.
Dr. Mia Geisinger, Immediate Past-President of the American Academy of Periodontology, emphasized that microbial dysbiosis and inflammation linked to periodontal and peri-implant diseases are associated with more than 57 systemic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and dementias. She noted that patients with these conditions should be evaluated for periodontal treatment, and the initiative will fund research into mechanistic links and the impact of treatment on overall health.
Funds will also support prevention-related programs and oral-systemic initiatives at partner organizations. The first example is partial funding of the AAP’s Best Evidence Consensus on the Prevention of Peri-Implant Disease, convened in Chicago to develop strategies for preventing onset and progression.
Founded in 1990, the AAP Foundation continues to serve as the premier philanthropic entity supporting periodontics and dental implant surgery. The Levi-Richman Integration Initiative represents a major step in raising awareness of the oral-systemic connection, ensuring that periodontal health is recognized as a vital part of whole-body health.
