Dr. Joseph Boffa Featured in Metrowest Daily News
Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research Dr. Joseph Boffa guest authored an op-ed article, “Don’t sacrifice health to cut deficits,” in the January 18, 2013, issue of the Metrowest Daily News. “Congress must do the right thing,” he says, “in order to preserve some of the programs that actually work to keep America healthy.” Dr. Boffa urges Congress to avoid cuts in Medicare Part D, citing both research and cases he witnessed personally as… More
ASDA Students Travel to Vermont and Washington D.C. to Lobby for Oral Health
Members of the ASDA Legislative Committee, Robert Cauley DMD 14, Kiirsten Finn DMD 14, Sameet Gill DMD 14, and Erik Harriman DMD 14 joined members of the Vermont State Dental Society (VSDS) on April 12, to participate in the Legislative Day. After a morning meeting with members of the VSDS, the students met with representatives from Vermont State Legislature and sat in on a health policy meeting. Since Vermont appears close to passing a mid-level provider bill, the VSDS and… More
GSDM Students Hit the Hill
Members of the ASDA Legislative Committee including Derrick Call DMD 12, Dhiren Agrawal DMD 13, Marc Horton DMD 14, and James Lee DMD 14 joined members of the Massachusetts Dental Society to participate in the 2012 Beacon Hill Day. After a morning meeting at the Omni Parker House, the students walked to the State House and met with representatives from Massachusetts State Legislature to lobby for issues important to dental students and practicing dentists. This year the MDS lobbied to… More
Students Extend Lobbying Effort North to Maine
Marc Horton DMD 14, David Haluska DMD 12, and Erik Harriman DMD 14 traveled to Augusta, Maine on February 7, to participate in a lobbying event sponsored by the Maine Dental Association (MDA). The students met with officials from the MDA in the afternoon and in the evening they joined member dentists at the MDA’s Legislative Reception, where they spoke with Representatives from the Maine State Legislature about issues important to dental students and new graduates. This was the first… More
Students Descend on Beacon Hill
On April 13, a group of GSDM students headed to the State House for Beacon Hill Day 2011. On this day each year MDS relies on its dentist and student members to come together at the Massachusetts State House and explain the importance of oral health to legislators. "Beacon Hill Day was a great opportunity to meet with legislators and discuss the issues,” said Ana Serrenho DMD 13. “Participating in the day allows the dental community to take some of… More
Dr. Sahin-Toth Publishes Paradigm-shifting Study in JBC
Professor Dr. Miklos Sahin-Toth and his co-workers Research Associate Dr. Richárd Szmola, and Postdoctoral Fellows Drs. Melinda Bence and Andras Szabo have recently published a new study on what Dr. Sahin-Toth refers to as, “paradigm-shifting in the field of digestive enzyme regulation.” "In this study we demonstrate that full activation of human digestive procarboxypeptidases A1 and A2 requires not only trypsin but chymotrypsin C as well,” said Dr. Sahin-Toth. “If we generalize the findings, they suggest that intestinal digestive enzyme… More
GSDM Responds to MassHealth Cuts with Revamped BUMP UP
A meeting to discuss new coverage and payment procedures that will take effect on July 1, in the treatment centers at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) was held on June 15. In response to the MassHealth coverage cuts, GSDM has resurrected and restructured a program that was created the last time Massachusetts made cuts to MassHealth adult dental coverage. The program, Boston University MassHealth Patient Upgrade Program (BUMP UP) provides basic restorative services at deeply… More
Despite Students’ Best Efforts, MassHealth Adult Dental Services Slashed
On May 26, students from Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) flocked to the Massachusetts State House to speak with state senators about the proposed budget cuts to MassHealth adult dental benefits. In cooperation with representatives from the Massachusetts Dental Society, Health Care For All, and the Oral Health Advocacy Taskforce, GSDM students were briefed on the key points they needed to communicate to the senators. They were then broken into small groups and given a… More
Proposed State Budget Cuts Could Impact Patient Care and Clinical Education at GSDM
On April 14, the Massachusetts Senate Committee on Ways & Means released a fiscal year 2011 budget which calls for cuts to MassHealth adult dental benefits. These cuts would eliminate restorative services for the 700,000 adults on MassHealth and leave extractions as the only course of treatment for those in need of dental care. Although preventative services are protected, denying these benefits will cause pain and suffering and force many to use emergency services, which will only serve to diminish… More
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ON CLOSINGS AND CANCELLATIONS
The Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine will be officially canceling all evening classes and evening clinics due to the impending snow storm. Specifically, this will include all classes that begin after 4:15 p.m. The predoctoral patient treatment centers will be canceling the 4:15 and 5:00 sessions, the 7th Floor AEGD clinic will be canceling all appointments starting after 4 p.m., and the 930 Commonwealth Avenue Dental Health Center will be canceling appointments after 5 p.m. The postdoctoral… More
