Liz Wehlage, director of dental services at Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, recently attended a “boot camp” for oral health in Denver.
Wehlage, a native of Humboldt, attended The National Oral Health Learning Institute for training in leadership, competencies and successful management of oral health programs.
Wehlage joined CHC/SEK in 2009 as a dental hygienist. She now oversees the dental clinics in Iola, Baxter Springs, Pittsburg, Coffeyville and Parsons, in addition to mobile outreach teams.
Wehlage was chosen among a select group of oral health directors and managers from across the country specifically working at federally qualified health centers.
Wehlage also holds a master’s degree in public health from the University of Kansas. She was promoted to dental services director of CHC/SEK in 2018.
“Finding equitable access to dental care can be a challenge for most, and I’ve been humbled to see these issues both from the perspective as a provider, and now as a director,” Wehlage said in a press release. “I feel very fortunate to work for an organization that aligns with my own values and goals, that sees possibilities and solutions, and is committed to removing the barriers to maintaining good health and increasing access to care for all.”
Every clinic within the CHC/SEK system accepts all patients, regardless of their ability to pay.