GSDM Celebrates Five Years of Monthly Volunteering at Rosie’s Place
Five years ago, in March of 2011, GSDM students in the School’s chapter of the American Association of Women Dentists (AAWD), in coordination with GSDM Oral Health Promotion, created a program called “Woman to Woman,” in which GSDM students would visit Rosie’s Place, a sanctuary for homeless women in the South End, every month to provide oral health screenings and other support services. In March of 2016, GSDM students made their nearly sixtieth trip to Rosie’s Place, marking five years of the monthly program.
The “Women to Women” program, which provides oral health support to an already existing wellness center at Rosie’s Place, began in 2011 after the president of GSDM AAWS at the time, Dr. Josephine Verde DMD 13, brainstormed ways to get involved with women of the local community with Ms. Kathy Lituri, Clinical Instructor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research and Oral Health Promotion Director. Dr. Verde was a DMD student at the time.
To read about the beginning of the “Women to Women” program click here.
Baring a few exceptions (weather, etc.), a GSDM volunteer team—organized by AAWD and GSDM Oral Health Promotion—has volunteered at Rosie’s Place every month since the first visit, back in March of 2011. The GSDM volunteers have performed a total of 588 oral health screenings, or about 10 screenings a month, since the program began in 2011. The volunteers also hand out 144 toothbrushes to the women at Rosie’s Place each month.
“The Women to Women program is truly remarkable in that it has been providing ongoing coverage to the many women who utilize the services offered by Rosie’s Place for five years,” said Ms. Lituri. “What is particularly special about this program is that the dental students get to work alongside nursing students from Regis College, nurse practitioners, and a physician assistant.”
She continued, “The dental students get a glimpse into some of the very real problems (acute and chronic, social and medical) often faced by women who are struggling. It’s a unique opportunity to meet with women in a comfortable setting while striving to make their day a little better with some kindness, some answers, or sometimes, just a smile.”
The current faculty advisor for AAWD is Dr. Kadambari Rawal; Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials.
“The Women to Women program has been a success only due to the hard work of Ms. Lituri and the continued efforts of GSDM’s AAWD chapter,” said Dr. Rawal. “The student volunteers show an incredible amount of compassion and genuine concern for the well-being and good oral health of the women at Rosie’s.”
Located in the South End a few blocks from GSDM, Rosie’s Place describes itself as a sanctuary for women in need of care and support. It was founded in 1974 with a mission to “provide a safe and nurturing environment that helps poor and homeless women maintain their dignity, seek opportunity, and find security in their lives,” according to its webpage. Rosie’s Place was one of the first women’s refuges in the United States.
The Wellness Center at Rosie’s Place is staffed five-days-a-week by nursing students from Regis College and local charitable organizations. According to Ms. Laurel Gourville, Nurse Coordinator and Regis College Faculty Liaison for Rosie’s Place, The Wellness Center —which has been in place for more than 15 years—allows the women who utilize Rosie’s Place to have an informed perspective from a professional working in the nursing field. Gourville said the role of the volunteers at The Wellness Center is to act like “school nurses,” providing a friendly, informed opinion and offering treatment and referrals when necessary.
“It’s a nice model for the guests because this is a group of folks that have difficulty accessing care,” said Gourville. “And I think it’s a very valuable experience for our future caregivers to know about this population that needs to be served.”
The Wellness Center offers a wide range of services including preventative immunizations; blood pressure and blood sugar screenings; assessment of common health problems; assistance with scheduling health care appointments; and finding primary care providers. An HIV counselor is available for testing and counseling twice a month and a dermatologist is on site once a month.
However, prior to the creation of GSDM’s “Women to Women” program, there was no oral health component at The Wellness Center.
The GSDM students’ monthly visits to The Wellness Center take place on the second Friday of every month from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. GSDM students perform dental screenings, provide oral health information, distribute oral health materials, and serve as a friend to the women at Rosie’s Place.
Courtney Knapik DMD 16 has volunteered at Rosie’s Place multiple times. Knapik said her experience has been very positive.
“I have found that volunteering at Rosie’s Place has been an eye opening experience. We play doctor, but I have found that more importantly, we play therapist,” said Knapik. “These women all have stories and just want someone to listen to their problems, which may not even be oral health related.
She continued, “Every time I volunteer I leave feeling very humbled and I will forever remember the women I was able to help. These experiences have solidified the fact that I will always help my community throughout my career.”
Sara Elashaal DMD 17 has been volunteering with the GSDM groups since her freshman year.
“From the first day of volunteering, I was extremely touched by the atmosphere of this sanctuary,” said Elashaal. “It has made me aware of how vulnerable these women are and how crucial their need for dental care is.”
Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter remarked, “I am very proud of all the GSDM students, residents, staff, and faculty who have volunteered in this important program at Rosie’s Place. GSDM is a school dedicated to bettering our community, and the ‘Women to Women’ program is a fantastic example of this.”
All DMD students are welcome and encouraged to volunteer at Rosie’s Place during the monthly visits. Students do not have to be AAWD members, nor do they have to be women to participate. However, in order to perform dental screenings, students must be third or fourth-year DMD students, or second-year AS students.
Please contact Ms. Kathy Lituri at lituri@bu.edu for information on how to volunteer.