American Lung Association
Title: Fighting Flavor: Addressing Youth Vaping Through Legislative Advocacy
Student Interns:
Durgha Natrajan
University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Abby Quinn Peterson, DMD, MPH
University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Elizabeth Powell, DDS, MPH
University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine
Community Preceptor:
Elizabeth Hensil
Director, Advocacy for PA and WV, American Lung Association
Community Site:
The American Lung Association is a national nonprofit dedicated to improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy, and research. Founded in 1904, the organization works to reduce tobacco use; promote clean air; advance lung disease research; and support patients with conditions like asthma, COPD, and lung cancer. It plays a key role in shaping public health policy and empowering communities with resources to protect respiratory health, especially among vulnerable and underserved populations.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern focused on educating Pennsylvania legislators about the health risks of flavored vaping products and advocating for policy change to protect youth. Working with the American Lung Association, the intern helped translate clinical and public health evidence into accessible language for lawmakers, creating a one-page informational handout summarizing key statistics and oral health risks associated with flavored vape use. The handout was distributed during legislative meetings. The work highlighted the disconnect between policymakers’ knowledge and public health data, aiming to fill that gap through direct engagement and education.
Reflections
“This experience had a lasting impact on both my professional and personal development as a dental student. Working with the American Lung Association on flavored vape product advocacy provided a valuable opportunity to bridge clinical training with public policy. Engaging directly with legislators revealed how critical it is for health professionals to be active participants in advocacy, especially when public understanding of health risks is limited. The experience has reinforced the importance of oral health in broader public health conversations and sparked a long-term interest in integrating health policy and community engagement into my future career as a dentist.”
Durgha Natrajan