The Division of Population Oral Health celebrates Dr. Joni Nelson on her recognition as a 2026 MOJA Community Hero, an honor presented by the MOJA Arts Festival and the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs.
Dr. Nelson received a Medal of Honor during the MOJA Arts Festival Community Heroes Gala, held September 24th at the South Carolina Aquarium. The recognition honors her commitment to developing the next generation of health professionals and strengthening the health care workforce in underserved rural communities.
Through her work at MUSC, Dr. Nelson advances efforts focused on population and oral health, workforce development, community engagement, and improving access to care. Her leadership reflects the Division of Population Oral Health’s commitment to building healthier communities and addressing health disparities across South Carolina.
Reflecting on the recognition, Dr. Nelson shared that she was “truly honored” to be named a 2026 MOJA Community Hero and expressed gratitude to those who have supported and influenced her work. She added that she hopes to “leave something worthy for others to stand upon as well.”
The MOJA Community Heroes recognition celebrates individuals whose leadership, service, and contributions have made a meaningful impact throughout Charleston and the Lowcountry.
Joni Nelson, Ph.D., MS
Joni D. Nelson, Ph.D., MS, is an Associate Professor and serves as Chief of the Division of Population Oral Health within the Department of Biomedical & Community Health Sciences. She also holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Public Health Sciences in the College of Medicine and serves as Assistant Director for the Office of Workforce Development and Organizational Culture at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. She serves as Co-Leader of the Community Engagement Core for the South Carolina Clinical & Translational Research Institute (SCTR) and as Director of QUAD Core, which provides expertise and support in qualitative research and evaluation. Her research and professional interests include population and rural oral health, qualitative research and evaluation, head and neck cancer, community health, health disparities, and collaborative workforce approaches to improving access to care. Dr. Nelson earned her Ph.D. in Health Promotion, Education and Behavior from the University of South Carolina and her M.S. in Biomedical Sciences from MUSC. Her work emphasizes community-engaged approaches to strengthening the health care workforce and improving health outcomes, particularly in rural and safety net communities.
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