Meet our 2026 winner, Mr. Hart!

Mr. Ernesto Hart is our 2026 Access to Care Innovator! Mr. Hart has dedicated 34 years to The Floating Hospital’s dental program, becoming an indispensable force in providing care for New York City’s most vulnerable children and families. Starting as a summer intern in 1992, he rose through successive roles – dental assistant, outreach worker, and coordinator – before becoming Dental Manager in 2021, developing a rare, end-to-end understanding of both patient experience and clinic operations.

Mr. Hart transformed a modest, ship-based screening service, initially focused on identifying cavities among homeless shelter residents, into a fully equipped, high-capacity land-based dental practice capable of serving thousands of unhoused and low-income children. He accomplished this while working with complex populations – children, migrant families, survivors of domestic violence – and navigating the financial limitations typical of safety-net providers. Mr. Hart understood that for many families, dental anxiety rooted in past trauma is just as real a barrier as lack of access. Creating a welcoming, respectful, and reassuring environment was therefore just as important as clinical excellence. This focus on trust and dignity has been essential to building long-term engagement and improving oral health outcomes for The Floating Hospital’s homeless patients.

Those who know Mr. Hart describe him as the “heart” of The Floating Hospital. He restores confidence, trust, and joy in the clinic’s young patients. Whether comforting an anxious patient or working with a nonverbal autistic child, he leads with deep humanity.

The AAPD Foundation is proud to award Mr. Ernesto Hart! He will receive $10,000 for The Floating Hospital that may be applied for any expense in support of access to dental care.