High School Students Learn About Oral Health Disparities at GSDM

On August 5, nine high school students enrolled in the Community Voices program at Northeastern University visited GSDM. The purpose of their visit was to learn more about oral health disparities, especially in the context of racial and ethnic health disparities. In addition, the students had the opportunity to learn about various oral health careers and to ask two current dental students—Jenny Lorenzo DMD 13 and Peter Lee DMD 12—about their experiences.

CHP staff members, Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri and Dental Assistant John D’Adamo organized and volunteered as staff participants for the visit.

Community Voices is a program of the Center for Community Health Education, Research and Service, Inc. The program incorporates arts, education, research, and service and the high school students who participate are taught a curriculum of health, photography, journalism, and community advocacy by experts employed in community health centers.  Students are trained in “Photovoice”, a community-based participatory research method that incorporates photography, writing, and social action to document their experiences throughout the program. The end result is a collective photo essay, which becomes part of an ongoing public outreach project.