Large GSDM Group Brings Oral Healthcare to Mattapan Church

The Division of Community Health Programs (CHP) paired with the BU Chapter of the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) to provide oral health promotion on Saturday, September 29, 2012, at the Health Fair at the New Pentecostal Church in Mattapan. ASDA leaders Jenny Lorenzo and Fransheska Ovalles played an important role in organizing the event.

“The volunteers showed exceptional enthusiasm, professionalism, and compassion in dealing with the attendees and their oral health concerns,” said CHP Director of Oral Health Promotion Kathy Lituri. “After seeing so many smiling faces leaving the event, I think every single person felt that they were cared about and that they received a valuable service.”

GSDM volunteers offered a wide range of oral health promotion, education, age appropriate activities, screenings, and referrals. They screened nearly 60 people. The event organizers were so thrilled with GSDM that they have already invited the School back to volunteer in 2013.

The population at New Pentecostal Church is largely Haitian Creole and provided a unique opportunity for volunteers to learn about the oral health needs of the Haitian community in Boston.

Volunteers included: Abdul Rahman Addas AS 14, Ingy Alhelawe DMD 14, Muhammad Ali Shazib AS 14, Kaveh Baharvand Ahmadi AS 14, Clinical Instructor Lina Benslimane, Kayla Cuddy DMD 16, Marjan Fakhri AS 14, Jessica Finkielsztein DMD 16, Clinical Instructor Ana Keohane, Lana (Minh-Phumg) Le DMD 16, Richard Liu AS 14, Jenny Lorenzo DMD 13, Hajar Omer AS 14, Fransheska Ovalles DMD 13, Ryan Pasiewicz DMD 15, Khamir Patel AS 14, Hajra Sheikh AS 14, and Sara Sheikh AS 14.

Photos from the event are available on Facebook and Flickr. Thank you to Kaveh Baharvand Ahmadi and Ms. Lituri for their photos!