Shakalpi Pendurkar, DDS, MPH, has been appointed as the new State Dental Director for the California Department of Public Health by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Throughout her career spanning over two decades, Dr. Pendurkar has demonstrated a deep-rooted passion and commitment to improving access to oral healthcare services for California residents. With extensive experience in public health dentistry, she is uniquely qualified to lead the State’s Office of Oral Health. Her focus on improving access to care for underserved populations, including children, seniors, immigrants, and those living in poverty, aligns perfectly with Newsom’s vision of a healthier California for all.
“Achieving good health is a fundamental human right not just for a few, but for everyone, and holds vital importance for social and economic development. Governor Newsom’s ‘California for All’ outlines his vision of creating opportunity for all and aims to make California the place where people across the globe look to see what’s possible. I am proud to contribute to this empowering mission and committed to continuing my dedication to public service in this new role,” Dr. Pendurkar said.
In January 2003, she started working at Gardner Health Services in San Jose where she became an active member of the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD). Shortly after her hire date, she joined the bargaining committee and played a pivotal role in securing a strong first contract with the employer. The contract featured significant wage increases for dentists, ensuring fair compensation for her and her colleagues.
Shortly after the ratification of the first contract, she became a union steward and proceeded to be elected to the UAPD Board of Directors where she has held the position of Board Secretary for nearly a decade. She is also the chair of the UAPD’s Public Policy Committee.
Dr. Pendurkar’s leadership goes beyond the clinical setting. She has held key roles in the public health sector, previously serving as the Dental Health Administrator for the Alameda County Public Health Department, Dental Director of the Health Plan of San Mateo, and Dental Director of the Oral Public Health Program for San Mateo County.
She has served as chairperson on numerous boards and committees, such as the Improving Community Oral Health Workgroup, Oral Health Equity Workgroup, Steering Committee Member of the California Partnership for Oral Health, founder of the Collaborative for Oral Health, and Former President of the Santa Clara County Dental Society. In these roles, she has spearheaded collaboration between community members, public health officials, dental professionals, and local organizations to develop strategies and implement solutions to improve oral health outcomes.
She is also the Supervising Field Site Mentor for the Dental Public Health Residency Program at the University of California, San Francisco, where she plays a pivotal role in cultivating the next generation of dental public health professionals.
Dr. Pendurkar earned her master’s degree in public health at Emory University. She is a graduate of Nair Hospital Dental College where she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in dental surgery, specializing in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Dr. Pendurkar is also a delegate of the American Dental Association and the California Dental Association and a Fellow of the International and American College of Dentists. She is an alumnus of Harvard Kennedy School’s Public Leadership Program.