Kaz Rafia

Kaz Rafia has a diverse work experience spanning different roles and industries. Starting in 1998, Kaz worked at Kaiser Permanente as an Associate Dentist and later became a Clinic Director, leading a team and achieving significant growth in patient satisfaction and efficiency. In 2005, Kaz founded RAFIA DENTAL, a successful healthcare start-up that focused on superior client service and invested in team training and development. From 2007 to 2021, Kaz worked at PARTNERSHIP FOR INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL ACCESS-NORTHWEST as the Director of Operations, overseeing aid deployment in multiple countries. In 2015, Kaz became a Clinical Associate Professor at Oregon Health & Science University. From 2021 to 2022, Kaz served as the State Dental Director at the Oregon Health Authority, where they led various initiatives to improve oral health equity and workforce development. Currently, Kaz is the Chief Health Equity Officer at CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, overseeing their grantmaking institution and national advocacy network.

Kaz Rafia has a diverse education history. They have a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Youngstown State University. Additionally, Kaz has completed a Certificate in Hospital Dental Residency from Oregon Health & Science University and a Certificate in Sleep Medicine Residency Program from the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. They also have a Master of Public Health degree in Healthcare Policy and Finance from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a Master of Business Administration degree in Finance from Gies College of Business - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Kaz Rafia has several additional certifications, including Fellowships in Pierre Fauchard Academy, International College of Dentists, and the Academy of General Dentistry. They are also a Certified ScrumMaster, Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, and a Project Management Professional.