GSDM Volunteers Promote Oral Health at Healthy Baby, Healthy Child Family Celebration
On Tuesday, August 9, 2014, four Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) students volunteered their time to promote oral health and offer dental screenings to families participating in the Healthy Baby/Healthy Child Program at the Stony Brooke Reservation in Hyde Park. The six-week educational program concluded with a celebration that offered a great opportunity for GSDM students to learn more about the oral health of new moms, pregnant women, and children. Furthermore, it allowed GSDM students to interact with public health nurses, social workers, and advocates—not to mention it was an excellent way to recruit patients and have fun at the same time!
The Healthy Baby/Healthy Child Program of the Boston Public Health Commission is an innovative home-visiting program whose mission it is to promote the health and wellbeing of women, children, and families in Boston, particularly those living in communities that are disproportionately impacted by infant mortality and other health disparities. In existence for 18 years, the program has demonstrated success in providing home and community-based services to high-risk pregnant and parenting women and children up to three years of age.
The celebration was well-attended by many local families along with various program staff and local care providers. In addition to providing screenings and promoting proper oral hygiene, the volunteers had some fun with the families by making tooth necklaces, brushing puppet teeth, and playing “name that celebrity smile.”
GSDM volunteers included: Janna Feldman DMD 16, Courtney Knapik DMD 16, Sachin Kocharekar AS 15, and Abhiroop Kotha AS 15.
Janna Feldman DMD 16 summed up her experience at the celebration by saying, “The most rewarding aspects of my experience at the Healthy Baby/Healthy Child celebration were interacting with the children, experiencing their excitement as they learned to brush their teeth, and leaving knowing that their mothers learned new techniques to take care of their children’s oral health.”
Courtney Knapik DMD 16 concluded, “Although I was a little nervous, my first experience screening children turned out to be a very relaxing yet fulfilling afternoon. The children swarmed our models to practice brushing and showcase their skills. As we quickly built their trust and had the opportunity to look into their tiny mouths, it began as a screening, but ended up being an educational moment for them and their families.” She continued, “A day of screening brought me to the realization that these families were hanging on to my every word, not only as a dentist, or even a healthcare professional, but as a human being lending a helping hand.”
Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter said, “I want to thank our student volunteers for attending the Healthy Baby/Healthy Child event.” He continued, “Serving our community is a very important part of our mission and your efforts are highly valued and greatly appreciated.”