GSDM Volunteers Lend a Helping Hand at the MassCARE Health and Fitness Fair
On August 16, 2014, members of the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) community volunteered at the MassCARE Health and Fitness Fair at the Fesseden School in Newton, Massachusetts. The Health and Fitness Fair serves HIV positive women, children, youth, and their families with a day of fun activities, as well as health and wellness screenings and information.
Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri organized GSDM’s participation in the event. Lituri, along with 16 student and faculty volunteers, spent the morning and afternoon providing dental screenings and giving a 20 minute presentation on oral health to roughly 100 guests at the fair. In addition, attendees could stop by the GSDM booth to pick up health and wellness information and pamphlets promoting oral health. Dental-related activities and games for children were also a big hit at the booth. The day provided an opportunity for students to share their expertise as oral health professionals, as well as learn more about oral health issues affecting women living with HIV.
The volunteers were invited to stay for the rest of the fair after they completed their service activities in the early afternoon. Volunteers enjoyed a barbecue, as well as swimming, games, and sports.
“I want to thank each and every one of you for your contributions to the MassCARE event,” Lituri said to the volunteers after the event. “You were poised, professional, and made a positive impact on both the children and adults you encountered and interacted with. It is because of volunteers like yourselves that we are able to successfully participate in these events.”
Student volunteers for the MassCARE Health and Fitness Fair were: William Alvarez AS 16, Margi Chan DMD 16, Delaney Jorgensen DMD 18, Ana Keohane AS 16, Mira Khouzam AS 16, Jeongyun Kim AS 15, Sandip Ladani AS 16, Jena Lee DMD 18, Mike Mayr DMD 16, Alyssa Mazzoli DMD 16, Mohammed Mourad (pre-dental), Olga Spivak AS 16, Jamie Waller DMD 18, Ellen Yang (pre-dental), and Stanley Ye DMD 17. Faculty volunteers included: Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research and Director of School-based Programs Dr. Corinna Culler and Research Dental Assistant Justin Escobar.
Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.