News From 2012

GSDM Continues Support at Women to Women Event

December 4, 2012

The Boston University Student Chapter of American Association of Women Dentists (AAWD) returned to Rosie’s Place for the monthly “Women to Women” event on Friday, October 12, 2012. This initiative is a collaboration of the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Division of Community Health Programs (CHP) and the Wellness Clinic at Rosie’s Place.

At “Women to Women” events, students —under the guidance of Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri—learn about the issues facing women at Rosie’s Place and work alongside nurse practitioners and nursing students. It serves as both a valuable teaching experience and a vital part of giving back to the local community.

The student volunteers at this Women to Women event were David Cheng DMD 16; Jae Kwak DMD 16; Aaron Mertz DMD 16; Rachel Meshell SAR 13 (pre-dental student); Ritu Singh AS 13; Sirisha Rao DMD 14; and Manu Sharma AS 13.

“I am so pleased to see our students participate in this important event every month,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “Giving back to the community is an important part of our mission and it is truly gratifying to know that our students participate in our community so consistently.”

GSDM Students Participate in “Fall into Wellness” Health and Wellness Fair

December 4, 2012

On Tuesday, October 23, 2012, seven students from the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) and Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri volunteered at the “Fall into Wellness” Health and Wellness Fair. The Fair was sponsored by Vinfen, Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH), Bay Cove Human Services, North Suffolk Mental Health, and Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry. It was held at the DMH Gym of the Erich Lindemann Mental Health Center.

Yasmin Alayyoubi DMD 14, Erum Hussain AS 14, Sukhjinder Kaur AS 14, Jae Kwak DMD 16, Andrea Lam DMD 16, Kelley McLaughlin DMD 14, Peter Meaney DMD 14, and Kathy Lituri provided a wide range of oral health promotion and screenings. The Fair was aimed at people with special needs including developmental and behavioral disabilities.

“The Fair provided a great opportunity to promote oral health and offer dental screenings to individuals with developmental and behavioral health disabilities,” said Kathy Lituri. “It gave the GSDM students an opportunity to learn more about the oral health issues faced by adults with special needs and to interact with other professionals in this field.”

“The ‘Fall into Wellness’ Health and Wellness Fair proved to be a vital learning experience for GSDM students,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “Students received hands-on training to treat special needs patients, which has been an important focus here at GSDM for many years.

 

GSDM Research Project Takes Nathan Ng to ADA in San Francisco

October 30, 2012

Nathan A. Ng DMD 14 represented Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine in the ADA/DENTSPLY Student Clinician Research Program at the 2012 ADA Annual Session in San Francisco on Saturday, October 20, 2012.

Ng presented Coffee Consumption and Periodontal Disease in Men in the category Clinical Science/Public Health Research. Ng received the ADA/DENTSPLY Award for this poster at GSDM Science Day 2012. His mentors are Drs. Elizabeth Krall Kaye and Raul Garcia from the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research.

Researchers examined 394 dentate, non-Hispanic white males in the VA Dental Longitudinal Study who attended three oral examinations between 1987 and 1998. The men recorded their average coffee intake and were divided based on if they drank less than or more than one cup of coffee per day.

GSDM Students Promote Oral Health at Suffolk University Annual Health and Wellness Fair

October 30, 2012

On Thursday, September 27, four students from the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) and Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri volunteered at the Suffolk University Annual Health and Wellness Fair.

Sukhijinder Kaur AS 14, Rishit Patel AS 13, Rob Seitz DMD 13, Muhammad Ali Shazib AS 14, and Ms. Lituri provided a wide range of oral health promotion, screenings, referrals, education, and activities to students. Suffolk University students are eligible for the Boston University Student Dental Health Plan.

“This fair was a good opportunity for GSDM students to interact with college students on oral health issues relevant to them,” said Kathy Lituri. “In addition, a lot of the Suffolk students sought advice on dental careers and the process of studying for and applying to dental school.”

Breaking the Ice About Oral Health

October 23, 2012

The Division of Community Health Programs (CHP), with the help of Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri, teamed up with the student chapter of the American Association of Women Dentists (AAWD) and other GSDM student volunteers on Wednesday, September 26, 2012, at the annual Rosie’s Place Wellness Fair.

 

The Wellness Fair is the biggest of all events GSDM attends at Rosie’s Place and an opportunity for hundreds of women who attend to speak with representatives from many healthcare resources. They learn about topics such as osteoporosis, birth control, women’s issues, and, of course, oral health.“We have interactive activities to engage the women,” said Kathy Lituri. “The intent is to break the ice and get the women talking about their oral health.”

GSDM volunteers accomplished that goal with two educational activities that have proven popular at past outreachevents. One is a nutrition activity called “Go, Slow, or Whoa” that teaches players what foods to eat often, sometimes, or rarely based on their impact on teeth. The second, “Celebrity Smiles” is a hit created by alum Mahesh Sadhnani DMD 12.

“I think it is a seamless fit to have AAWD members being involved in Rosie’s Place events,” said AAWD member Andrea Lam DMD 16. “It was a good experience volunteering with male classmates and I think Aaron, David, and Ali all did an excellent job interacting with the women of Rosie’s Place and being sensitive to the issues they face.”

Andrea was surprised by how little some attendees knew about the sugar content of beverages they and their children commonly drink, proving the importance of the educational aspect of the event.
“Many spoke about drinking lots of sugary beverages throughout the day and were shocked to see the sugar levels in common drinks,” she said. “Often the drink labels are in grams, but it hits home when we convert those grams to teaspoons.”

Rosie’s Place is a sanctuary for poor and homeless women. GSDM has a longstanding relationship with Rosie’s and a system for providing oral health information and complementary hygiene supplies to women at Rosie’s Place.

Participants included: Muhammad Ali Shazib AS 14, David Cheng DMD 16, Andrea Lam DMD 16, Aaron Mertz DMD 16, and Champaka Nagaraju AS 14.

Several Members of GSDM Community Elected to American Public Health Association Oral Health Section

October 23, 2012

The American Public Health Association (APHA) Oral Health Section just announced its election results and five members of the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) community were selected.

The new APHA Oral Health Section includes: Chair-Elect Kathy M. Lituri, MPH, RDH; Secretary Cynthia Cadoret, MPH, RDH; Section Councilors Vinodh Bhoopathi, DScD, MPH, BDS and Amit Chattopadhyay, PhD, MPH, BDS; and Governing Councilor Raul I. Garcia, DMD, M Med Sc.

“On behalf of the entire Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine community, I congratulate the newly selected Oral Health Section leaders from GSDM,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “Your contributions to the APHA exemplify GSDM’s commitment to dental health as part of overall health.”

The new positions are effective Wednesday, October 31, 2012, the final day of this year’s APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition in San Francisco.

Many members of the GSDM community are actively involved in the Oral Health Section. As it happens, these particular positions are currently held by past and current members of the GSDM community. Kathy M. Lituri replaces Oscar Arevalo, DDS, ScD, a GSDM alum from the Dental Public Health (DPH) program. Raul I. Garcia steps into the position held by Helene Bednarsh, BS, RDH, MPH, an adjunct faculty member at GSDM. Cynthia Cadoret replaces Natalie Hagel, RDH, MS, a former member of the GSDM faculty.

“It’s a testament to the Goldman School’s commitment to public health that so many people from here are active in the Section,” said Kathy Lituri.

Ms. Lituri has been a dedicated member of APHA Oral Health Section leadership for almost a decade. In 2003 she was elected Secretary and served two three-year terms. Ms. Lituri now serves as Section Councilor, a role she retains until officially becoming Chair-Elect at the end of the APHA meeting this year. In 2013 she will assume the position of Chair.

Next year‘s APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition will be held in Boston on November 2-6, 2013. The last APHA meeting held in Boston was in 2006 and included the inaugural Anthony Westwater Jong Memorial Community Dental Public Health Student Awards.

Students, Staff, and Alums Team Up at Mattapan Health Revival

October 9, 2012

The BU chapter of the Student National Dental Association (SNDA) worked with the Division of Community Health Programs and Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri to organize a volunteer effort at the Mattapan Health Revival on Saturday, September 8, 2012. SNDA members Brittney Barrow DMD 14, Marissa Kobewka DMD 15, and Wyatt Traina DMD 14 took the lead, organizing the event at Mattapan Community Health Center with Ms. Lituri.

The mission of Mattapan Community Health Center is to improve the quality of life for residents of Mattapan and surrounding communities by providing comprehensive, accessible, affordable, and culturally-appropriate community health care services, including primary and preventive health services. Alumni Lisa Thompson DMD 05 and Mireille Alexis DMD 97, who are both part of the Mattapan Community Health Center team, joined volunteers from the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM).

GSDM volunteers offered free dental screenings and oral health information and interactive education. By the end of the six-hour day, they had screened 99 people and interacted with hundreds more.

In addition to Drs. Thompson and Alexis, volunteers included Abdul-Rahman Addas AS 14, Kaveh Baharvand Ahmadi AS 14, Muhammad Ali Shazib AS 14, Steven Armbrust DMD 16, Brittney Barrow DMD 14, Sonal Chhanabhai DMD 15, Kayla Cuddy DMD 16, Thomas Keeling DMD 14, Marisa Kobewka DMD 15, Jae Kwak DMD 16, Luri Lee DMD 16, Richard Liu AS 14, Alyssa Mazzoli DMD 16, Jessica Metcalf DMD 14, Champaka Nagaraju AS 14, Maidelys Oliva DMD 14, Khamir Patel AS 14, Daniella Rizzo DMD 16, Amrita Sandhu DMD 15, Sara Sheikh AS 14, Hajra Sheikh AS 14, Jonathan Solomon DMD 16, Wyatt Traina DMD 14, Karina Vergara DMD 14.

In thanking the volunteers, Ms. Lituri said, “I know that each and every one of you had a positive impact on the people that you encountered. It is because of students like you that CHP and in this case, SNDA, is able to effectively participate in such community-based events.”

GSDM Volunteer Efforts Endure at Rosie’s Place

October 9, 2012

On Friday, September 14, 2012, the BU Chapter of the American Association of Women Dentists (AAWD) continued its mission at Rosie’s Place—a sanctuary for poor and homeless women—with an event called Women to Women. The monthly initiative is accomplished in collaboration with the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Division of Community Health Programs (CHP) and the Wellness Clinic at Rosie’s Place.
The goal of Women to Women is to evaluate and address the oral health needs of the women seeking assistance at Rosie’s Place. Under the guidance of Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri, Women to Women volunteers spent time answering oral health related questions, distributing home care products, and offering dental screenings and oral health advice. All GSDM students are encouraged to volunteer for Women to Women, including men and those who are not members of AAWD.
Women to Women is an initiative that is not only a great service to the local community but an excellent opportunity for students to gain a better understanding of the issues facing the women at Rosie’s place.
The student volunteers at this Women to Women event were Tam Nguyen DMD 13; Zara Nensey DMD 14; Fernando San Juan DMD 14; Hunji Kim DMD 15; Marissa Kobewka DMD 15; Jae Kwak DMD 16; and Rachel Meshell, a Pre-Dental intern from Sargent College.

MDS Back to School Jam Brings Fun and Good Health to Mission Hill

September 18, 2012

Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) and the Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS) know that back-to-school is a busy and exciting time of year for schoolchildren, but it’s also a good time for families to check in on their oral health.
The GSDM Division of Community Health Programs (CHP) and Tooth Smart Healthy Start (TSHS) research study team joined in the back-to-school fun with the MDS and Boston Collaborative Group on Thursday, August 30, 2012, at the Boston Back to School Jam at Mission Main in Mission Hill, Boston.
The Back to School Jam, sponsored by the MDS and Boston Collaborative Group, is open the all members of the Mission Hill community and invites neighbors to come together and learn about their own health. The event features raffles, a barbecue, and health resource tables, where GSDM got involved.
GSDM volunteers, led by Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri, Dr. Gladys Carrasco, and Dr. Ana Keohane, offered dental screenings to hundreds of schoolchildren in attendance to get them ready for a new and healthy school year. Local dentists were also invited to participate.
Ms. Kathy Lituri pointed to this event as an excellent opportunity for students to take part in a community-based event organized by the MDS, learn about oral health issues of school-aged children, meet new patients, and, of course, have fun!
The Boston Collaborative Group is an initiative sponsored by the American Dental Association, the Massachusetts Dental Society, and the Metropolitan District Dental Society. The Group’s Chair is GSDM’s own Clinical Assistant Professor Frank Schiano DMD 06 AEGD 07.
Thank you to our volunteers: local pediatric dentist Dr. Richard Carr, MDS District Affairs & Student Events Coordinator Lisa Davis, Joseph Deschene DMD 16, Dr. Ana Keohane, Ms. Kathy Lituri, BU pre-dent student Lillian Lwanga, Nadia Malik DMD 13, Danny Shum DMD 13, and Insun Yoon DMD 13.

GSDM’s Dr. Michelle Henshaw and Andrew Jorgensen First to be Featured on University Provost’s Site

September 11, 2012

Boston University Provost Jean Morrison recently launched a new feature on her website called Faculty & Student Spotlightand bestowed on the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) the great honor of having the first faculty member and student to be featured: Dr. Michelle Henshaw and Andrew Jorgensen DMD 13.
Jorgensen’s story, From Rockets to Retainers, addresses his decision to leave family and a promising career as an engineer in Colorado for dental school at BU.
Dr. Henshaw, who is assistant dean for community partnerships & extramural affairs, director of the Division of Community Health Programs, and professor at GSDM, was featured in The Gift of a Smile. Her story focuses on how she shares her passion with GSDM students for bringing oral healthcare to underserved communities and inspires those students to do the same.
“On behalf of all the students, staff, and faculty at GSDM, I want to share with Dr. Henshaw and Mr. Jorgensen how proud we are to see them featured for their wonderful work,” says Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter.
The Faculty & Student Spotlight highlights BU’s vibrant academic community and the special stories of faculty and staff throughout the University. Keep your eyes on the Provost’s website, where new stories will be added in the coming weeks.

Dental Care Remains Strong in Chelsea at Back to School Celebration

September 11, 2012

Approximately 1,000 students and their parents attended the 9th annual Chelsea Back to School Celebration at Williams Middle School on Thursday, August 23, 2012. Each August, school and community groups welcome Chelsea students back to school with games, prizes, giveaways, and educational information.
Six members of the BU faculty and staff—Director, School-based Programs Corinna Culler; Joyce Ganas; Chelsea Johnston; Dr. Ana Keohane; Brian Mahoney; and Ben Wheeler—were on hand to talk about the Chelsea School Dental Center (located in Williams Middle School) and oral health.
GSDM volunteers provided toothbrushes, toothpaste, stickers, and informational flyers about the Chelsea School Dental Center and general oral health.
“Since opening in April of 2003, the Chelsea School Dental Center, managed by GSDM, has provided preventive and restorative services for thousands of children who may have no other source of dental care,” says Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “I am so pleased that our staff and faculty continue to have a presence in the Chelsea community, not only through the Chelsea School Dental Center, but also by attending the Chelsea Back to School Celebration along with other Chelsea community partners each year.”
Photos from the event are available on Facebook and Flickr.

GSDM Celebrates Ninth Year Volunteering at Countdown to Kindergarten

September 11, 2012

For the ninth consecutive year, volunteers from the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) participated in Boston Public School’s annual Countdown to Kindergarten Citywide Celebration. This year’s event was held on August 28, 2012, at the Boston Children’s Museum.
Countdown to Kindergarten engages families as their children transition to kindergarten, providing information about community resources, early learning opportunities, and answers to outstanding questions about school. During this year’s event, children had the opportunity to tour the museum exhibits, climb onto real buses, and meet Mayor Thomas Menino and Superintendent of Boston Schools Dr. Carol R. Johnson.
Organized by GSDM members of the American Student Dental Association and Community Health Programs, 29 volunteers provided dental screenings as well as hands-on, interactive activities promoting oral health to the children and their families. Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri and Clinical Instructor of Health Policy & Health Services Research Ana Keohane volunteered alongside the students.
GSDM’s caries-fighting superhero Captain Cavity Fighter also made an appearance. Once again, the GSDM faculty and students successfully provided crucial assistance and dental health education to the local community at Boston’s Countdown to Kindergarten.
Student volunteers included Assal Abdossalehi DMD 16, Britney Barrow DMD 14, Ella Botchevar DMD 14, Kimoyi Cho DMD 14, Alexandra Costa DMD 14, Shelby Curtis DMD 16, Marina Gonchar DMD 14, Erik Harriman DMD 14, Ben Irzyk DMD 14, Courtney Knapik DMD 16, Anna Komnatnaya DMD 16, Andrea Lam DMD 16, James Lee DMD 14, Jenny Lorenzo DMD 13, Rachel Lukas DMD 13, Keely Matheson DMD 15, Tam Nguyen DMD 13, Maidelys Oliva DMD 14, Fransheska Ovalles DMD 13, Ryan Pasiewicz DMD 15, Elizabeth Ponder DMD 13, Drew Popper DMD 14, Hasti Sabbaghan DMD 16, Neelam Shah DMD 14, Delsaz Sultan AS 13, Delphine Suyoung Jeong DMD 15, Raquel Valido DMD 14, Karina Vergara DMD 14, and Alana Yip DMD 14.
Photos of the event can be found on Facebook and Flickr.

New Students and Other Volunteers Make Operation Stand Down a Dental Success

September 4, 2012

The 2012 Massachusetts Operation Stand Down was held on August 24 and 25, 2012, at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 103 in Dorchester for the second consecutive year. GSDM students volunteered under the direction of Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri, providing dental screenings to 91 participants.

There was an impressive volunteer turnout. Incoming DMD 16 students—some of whom were volunteering at their first CHP event—were especially enthusiastic.

Steve Armbrust DMD 16 worked as a recorder. He said, “You don’t get out of lecture much as a first and second year student, so this is a great preview of what’s to come in clinic and a chance to see the people in your community who are in need of care.”

The group also offered denture cleaning and labeling and oral health supplies such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, and denture kits. GSDM worked with Healthcare for the Homeless again to refer veterans who are homeless or living in a shelter.

“This event is a real world application of what we learn about in school,” said Andrea Lam DMD 16. Lam described one veteran who had lost 30 pounds in six months because his dentures were so painful that he stopped wearing them and stopped eating. He was referred to Healthcare for the Homeless.

The Massachusetts Stand Down is cohosted by Volunteers of America Massachusetts and the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide free services to homeless veterans or veterans at risk of becoming homeless.

“I am so pleased to see our students, staff, and faculty return to this important event year after year and especially excited to see our incoming students become involved in the community right away,” says Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “I commend each and every one of you for volunteering your time to assist our veterans.”

Thank you to our many volunteers: Steven Armbrust DMD 16, Solafa Ayoub DPH 15, Christopher Balaban DMD 16, Ella Botchevar DMD 14, Matthew Dekow DMD 14, Tarek Elmajie DPH 13,  Ashley Gomes DMD 14, John Greiner DMD 13, Hebah Hamdan DPH 15, Zaina Kalthoum DPH 15, Andrea Lam DMD 16, Minh-Phumg (Lana) Le DMD 16, Lindsey Nowland DMD 16, Oliutayo Odusanwo AS 13, Christian Peralta DMD 13, Satinder Kaur Pandher AS 13, Delsaz Sultan AS 13, and faculty Ms. Kathleen Held, Ms Kathy Lituri, and Ms. Ana Keohane.

You can find photos of all the Operations Stand Down volunteer groups on the official Facebook page and photos of GSDM volunteers on Facebook and Flickr.

AAWD and CHP Return to Rosie’s Place

September 4, 2012

The Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine Division of Community Health Programs (CHP) and BU Chapter of the American Association of Women Dentists (AAWD) returned to Rosie’s Place on Tuesday, August 14, 2012, to participate in the Childworks Program.

Rosie’s Place is a sanctuary for poor and homeless women located in Boston’s South End. GSDM has a longstanding volunteer relationship with Rosie’s Place. Childworks is a volunteer-run program that aims to provide activities, learning opportunities and recreation for the children of Rosie’s Place.

On this day, 15 children (along with their mothers) participated in the Passport to Dental Health. Under the direction of Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri, GSDM volunteers set up six stations for children and their caregivers to visit and earn their “passport” to dental health. Each station features interactive and age appropriate activities for the children that accompany their mothers/caregivers to Rosie’s Place. The 6 stations are: (1) Brushing/flossing/plaque; (2) Just Say No! (Tobacco and other harmful habits); (3) Tooth protectors (sealants, mouth guards, fluoride, xylitol); (4) So you want to be a dentist?; (5) The importance of teeth; and (6) Healthy food for healthy teeth. There is also an arts and crafts table for young children.

Both female and male students were encouraged to volunteer. The event is a chance to learn about some of the issues faced by women and children that seek the services of Rosie’s Place, interact with them, and share expertise.

Volunteers included: Yasmin Alayyoubi DMD 14, Nadia Daljeet DMD 13, Navid Kabiri AS 13, Rachel Lukas DMD 13, Manu Sharma DMD 13, Europa Yang DMD 13, and pre-dent volunteers Clare Kim, Lillian Lwanga, and Asia Yip.

Brockton High Schoolers Learn About Dental Careers at GSDM

August 28, 2012

The Division of Community Health Programs, in collaboration with the BU chapter of ASDA, hosted 15 high school children on Wednesday, August 8, 2012, who were participating in the Summer Dental Health Careers program run by the Massachusetts Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Network Summer Brockton Program/Health Imperatives organization. The students came from two Brockton schools. Remarkably, the group was made up of 14 girls and only one boy, proving that women may have a bright future in science and health fields.

The students joined GSDM staff and students in the Simulation Learning Center to learn about careers available in the oral health field, learn about life as a dental student, and build on the knowledge they gained in their summer program. In the SLC, students took impressions of their thumbs and poured models of them to take home.

Kathy Lituri pointed to this being an excellent opportunity to serve as a role model and inspire a high school student to pursue a career in oral health, share stories about the dental student experience, work on presentation skills, and, of course, have fun.

“The dental students and the high school students really connected this day,” Lituri said. “There were so many volunteers that it was practically one-on-one—and the high school students knew so much about oral health!”

According to its website, the mission of the Massachusetts AHEC Network is to increase access to quality health care through the development of community-academic educational partnerships.

Upon completion of the program, the high school students were invited to a Participant Recognition Ceremony on August 23, 2012, for the children. All the CHP and student volunteers were invited, and the invitation featured a photo of the children in the GSDM Simulation Learning Center.

Volunteers included: Gladys Carrasco, Kathy Held, Kathy Lituri, event leaders Jenny Lorenzo DMD 13 and Zara Nensey DMD 14, Ashley Gomes DMD 14, Lindzy Goodman DMD 14, Gurshant Grewal DMD 14, Thomas Keeling DMD 14, Marissa Kobewka DMD 15, Arif Mamdani DMD 14, Keely Matheson DMD 15, Steve Melnic DMD 14, Fransheska Ovalles DMD 13, Drew Popper DMD 14, Neelam Shah DMD 14, Danny Shum DMD 13, and Wyatt Traina DMD 14.

One-and-a-half years and still going strong at Rosie’s Place

August 6, 2012

Women to Women is a collaborative effort among the Wellness Clinic at Rosie’s Place, the Boston University Student Chapter of the American Association of Women Dentists (AAWD), and GSDM’s Division of Community Health Programs (CHP). The partnership began in March 2011 and was spearheaded by now AAWD President Josephine Verde DMD 13.

Friday, July 13, 2012 marked the 17th consecutive month that GSDM was at Rosie’s Place on Harrison Avenue to participate in the Women to Women Program. The program strives to assess and address the oral health needs of the women who seek services at Rosie’s Place, a sanctuary for homeless, battered, and displaced women.

On one Friday each month, AAWD members and CHP faculty are on site for several hours to answer questions, distribute home care products, and offer dental screenings and related advice to women at Rosie’s Place. To date, GSDM has provided 168 screenings and information to many more. Volunteers distribute about 144 toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste every month.

Verde, who was unable to attend this most recent event because she is away on externship, said, “I would like to thank all the volunteers, including not only the AAWD members but others who have helped us with this effort, such as the male students who have volunteered. We have aspirations to make the program a continued success and are working hard to keep the program running well and find a steady source of volunteers.”

In addition to providing oral health resources to women at Rosie’s Place, the event is a valuable opportunity for GSDM students.

“It’s a good experience for the students, both male and female, and we have had several males volunteer,” says Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri. “It’s a good chance for the students to interact with the medical team, nursing students, and members of AAWD. And, we are fulfilling a need.”

Along with Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri, volunteers included: Alekhya Deepthi Badam AS 13, Antolnela Dhamko DMD 13, Navid Kabiri AS 13, BU pre-dent student Clare Kim, Melissa Knudsen DMD 13, UMass pre-dent student Lillian Lwanga, Manu Sharma AS 13, and BU pre-dent student Asia Yip.

CHP Addresses HIV-Related Oral Health

July 23, 2012

The GSDM Division of Community Health Programs (CHP) and students promoted oral health as it relates to HIV at the National HIV Testing Day/Health Fair event on Wednesday, June 27, 2012. The event took place at Greenwood Memorial United Methodist Church in Dorchester.

“This is an excellent opportunity to participate in a community-based event, share your expertise as an oral health professional, and learn more about the oral health issues of people concerned about HIV,” said GSDM Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri.

GSDM provided oral health promotion activities targeted to elders, teens, workers, and anyone interested in taking an HIV test or learning more about the risk factors associated with HIV. The event also featured health screenings for diabetes and blood pressure, Zumba, yoga, and other activities that contribute to a healthy lifestyle.

Other collaborators included Dorchester House, Codman Square Health Center, and The Dimock Center.

Thank you to student participants Venkata Siva Prasad Bandi AS 13, Navid Kabiri AS 13, Kabir Ram AS 13, and Rob Seitz DMD 13.

CHP Teams Up with Homeless Shelters for Children’s Oral Health

July 9, 2012

Losing a home, even temporarily, can have a terrible impact on a child’s ability to attend and do well in school. The Homeless Education Resource Network (HERN, formerly the Homeless Student Initiative) supports homeless children so they can have “stable learning experiences in school.”

GSDM’s Division of Community Health Programs recently teamed up with HERN at a symposium for homeless shelter providers. The aim of the event was to inform the participants how to maintain wellness in themselves and their clients. About 50 people attended the event at Jubilee Christian Church in Mattapan.

Clinical Instructor Dr. Lina Benslimane and Dental Health Educator Krissie Gibbs set up tables and gave out samples of toothbrushes, toothpaste, and flyers about the Smart Smiles Program in Boston Public Schools.

The event was sponsored by Boston Public Schools. Other participating groups included the Boston Public Health Commission, Boston Medical Center, Shell Education, school teachers and support staff, shelter directors, and case managers.

You can follow HERN on the group’s facebook page.

CHP and HSDA Host Annual Blackstone School Field Trip

June 25, 2012

The 13th Annual Blackstone School field trip was held on Friday, June 15, 2012. As part of the trip, four classrooms of third grade children from the South End elementary school visited GSDM for the day. Fransheska Ovalles DMD 13, a member of the Hispanic Student Dental Association (HSDA), played a key role in assisting Division of Community Health Programs (CHP) Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri with the coordination of the event.

The day started in G-301 with Assistant Dean of Students Dr. Joseph Calabrese welcoming the Blackstone students and leading a Q&A session. The children were treated to a healthy snack food: yogurt parfaits.

Escorted by BUMC public safety officers, the children moved on to the Simulation Learning Center (SLC) for some hands-on learning. Once they were dressed in gowns and masks, they were ready to participate in activities such as a walnut/sealant experiment, a hand-washing exercise with glitter as germs, and thumb impressions with alginate and stone.

The field trip would not have been complete without an appearance by Captain Cavity Fighter, played by Peter Meany DMD 14. The children enjoyed posing for photos with Captain Cavity Fighter and asking him questions about oral health. Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter, known as the “Principal” by the children, visited during the time in the SLC. One child asked, “Do you treat people other than children?” Dean Hutter responded, “Yes, we treat people of all ages. However, there is a special type of dentistry, called Pediatric Dentistry that treats children specifically. Great question!”

After a morning filled with learning, the children and GSDM volunteers moved outside to Talbot Green for a pizza lunch.

“I would like to thank each and every one of the volunteers for their contributions. Their efforts behind the scenes, as well as during and after the event, are essential to the success of this program,” said Ms. Lituri. She continued, “I would especially like to thank Peter Meaney for playing the role of Captain Cavity Fighter and Fransheska Ovalles for helping to plan this on behalf of the Hispanic Student Dental Association.”

Faculty and staff volunteers included: Ms. Kathy Held, Ms. Sheree Norquist, Ms. Thayer Scott, Ms. Joyce Ganas, Ms. Cindy Cadoret, Ms. Flor Amaya, Ms. Sharon Boyle, Ms. Meg Loadholt, Ms. Dee Devlin, and Dr. Ana Keohane.

Student volunteers included: Navneet Chahal AS 13, Delia Cruz Elizundra AS 13, Adelina Duka AS 13, Marian Ibarra DMD 13, Navid Kabiri AS 13, Thomas Keeling DMD 14, Jenny Lorenzo DMD 13, Peter Meaney DMD 14, Fransheska Ovalles DMD 13, Michael Posada AS 13, Chelsea Randall DMD 13, Kenia Rodriguez DMD 14, Darshit Shah AS 13, Kushal Shah AS 13, Manu Sharma AS 13, Martha Vasquez AS 13, Karina Vergara DMD 14, Josh Williams DMD 15, Jaspreet Wirring DMD 14, Boston University pre-dental undergraduate student Asia Yip.

Large Volunteer Turnout Makes Brooke School Visit a Success

June 18, 2012

Sixty third-grade children from the Edward W. Brooke Charter School in Roslindale visited the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) on Friday, June 8, 2012, for the second annual field trip to our School. Thirty dental students plus more faculty and staff volunteered that day to make the experience fun and educational for Brooke students and inspire them to pursue dental education in the future.

“I would like to thank each and every one of you for your contributions to the field trip,” said Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri. “Your efforts behind the scenes, as well as during and after the event, are essential to the success of this program.”

May 2012 graduate Oshin Anjirghooli came back to play Captain Cavity Fighter, the caped superhero who teaches children to fight caries.

Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter welcomed the students in classroom 301 and visited with them in the Simulation Learning Center (SLC). Assistant Dean of Students Joe Calabrese ran a question and answer session for students in room 301. Faculty and staff members from throughout GSDM also helped plan and run the event. They include: Flor Amaya, Dr. Lina Benslimane, Sharon Boyle, Cindy Cadoret, Fadumo Egal, Dr. Mark Ferriero, Kathy Held, Meg Loadholt, Sheree Norquist, Thayer Scott, Dr. Woosung Sohn, and Bruce Spector.

Dean Hutter said, “It is very important for GSDM to provide this opportunity to the children and I would like to thank Ms. Lituri and all of the GSDM students, staff and faculty for their support in organizing this visit. “

Thank you to our student volunteers: Farnaz Adibi DMD 13, Yasmin Alayyoubi DMD 14, Oshin Anjirghooli DMD 12, Varun Arya AS 13, Ammar Awadi AS 13, Entela Cika DMD 14, Christina Donnelly DMD 13, Danielle Fernandez DMD 14, Josh Gilbert DMD 14, Michelle Holzinger DMD 13, Heta Jasani AS 13, Navid Kabiri AS 13, Rohan Kirtane AS 13, Parsia Koleni DMD 13, Anna Lechowicz DMD 13, Shahram Navid AS 13, Zara Nensey DMD 14, Tayo Odusanwo AS 13, Ankur Oswal AS 13, Khushbu Patel AS 13, Ichhya Pathak Paudel AS 13, Michael Posada AS 13, Fnu Rabinder Kaur AS 13, Cameron Schoettler GMS 12, Darshit Shah AS 13, Neelam Shah DMD 14, Azadeh Shahab AS 13, Manu Sharma AS 13, Delsaz Sultan AS 13, Erica Weinberg DMD 14, and Andrew Won DMD 13.

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

Getting Healthy in Chelsea 2012

June 18, 2012

On Saturday, May 5, 2012, the Division of Community Health Programs (CHP) from Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine’s (GSDM) Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research participated in the school readiness event Getting Healthy in Chelsea 2012.

The Health Fair was organized by Chelsea Family Network celebrating its third year as Chelsea’s Childhood Obesity Awareness and Prevention Fair. The group’s goal is to promote nutrition and wellness programs and initiatives in the community to prevent childhood obesity.

Approximately 300 adults and 175 children attended the health fair at the Williams School Cafeteria in Chelsea, MA. There were approximately 10 to 15 tables in total at the health fair. GSDM had one table staffed with volunteers Dr. Ana Keohane, Dr. Martin Ugarte, and Research Dental Assistant Michael Mayr. They offered samples of toothbrushes, toothpaste, stickers, dental books for children, coloring pages, and information about the Chelsea School Dental Center. Overall, it was a great afternoon and CHP looks forward to participating in this annual event again next year.

Boston Parents Learn Oral Health Advice from Smart Smiles Team

June 11, 2012

On May 5, 2012, Boston Public Schools hosted the “Parent University” event at Northeastern University. Three staff members from the Division of Community Health Programs (CHP) within the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research volunteered at Parent University. Assistant Professor & Director, School-Based Programs Corinna Culler, Clinical Instructor & Smart Smiles in the Boston Public Schools Program Dentist Lina Benslimane, and Dental Health Educator Krissie Gibbs represented GSDM.

Parent University is designed to help parents of Boston Public School (BPS) students increase their understanding of how children learn and develop, and also how to bring other parents together to work for school improvement. Parent University offers workshops in parent advocacy, family health and wellness, and much more. Approximately 300 families attended the event, which lasted from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

GSDM is proud to participate in this event promoting the CHP and BPS program Smart Smiles. The table for Smart Smiles Program provided families with information on the importance of children’s oral health and how to maintain it. The GSDM team distributed toothbrushes, toothpaste, stickers, and Smart Smiles flyers.

GSDM Promotes Oral Health in Mattapan’s Haitian Community

June 4, 2012

On May 5, 2012, Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) faculty members Dr. Shiro Kamachi and Dr. Hideo Yamamoto joined Community Health Programs (CHP) Oral Health Promotion Director Ms. Kathy Lituri and eighteen GSDM students and residents at the Inite Pou La Sante/United for Health Fair. This event was held at the Voice of the Gospel Tabernacle in Mattapan.

Fair services included health and nutrition counseling, cancer education, blood pressure checks, diabetes screening, eye exams, and dental screenings. This is the fourth consecutive year that GSDM has provided dental screenings at this event. Community Health Programs invited the Massachusetts Section of the American College of Prosthodontics to participate in the event as part of ACP Prosthodontics Awareness Week.

The following students and residents volunteered at this event as Oral Health promoters and screeners with Ms. Lituri and Drs. Kamachi and Yamamoto: Neelam Shah DMD 14, Zara Nensey DMD 14, Tayo Odusanwo DMD 13, Delsaz Sultan DMD 13, Layeeq Ahmed DMD 13, Mohamed Elnazer DMD 13, Satinder Pandher DMD 13, Kavitha Rayapati DMD 13, Abdallah Awada PROS, Haitem Naas PROS, Beom Park PROS, Genoveba Smirlian PROS, Mohammad Dashti PROS, Roxana Hashemian PROS, Hatem Gelani PROS, Ashraf Naser PROS, Alaa Kensara PROS, and Im Hyung Gu PROS.

 

Celebrating Our People and Their Success

June 4, 2012

At this time, we would like to recognize the accomplishments of individual staff members who have been promoted in the past 18 months at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM). Without our staff members, GSDM would not be able to deliver excellence in dental education to our students and provide quality patient care to our community, which is the mission of our School. Through their hard work and dedication, these individuals help all of us in the GSDM community continue to execute and live our mission.

“Please join me in congratulating these 18 staff members,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “As we implement the Applied Strategic Plan, and continue to focus on staff development and recognition, I am pleased to share the important news of these staff promotions. We appreciate all that you do on a daily basis for our School and we wish you continued success.”

Congratulations are extended to the following individuals:

Name	Department	New Title
Kathleen Bagley	Pre-doctoral Data Support	Manager, Pre-doctoral Data Support
Alana M. Casciello	Dept. of Health Policy & Health Services Research	Project Manager
George Boquet	Supply Store	Supply Store Coordinator
Bridget Pelkie	Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery	Administrative Coordinator
Afaf Hourani	Office for the Assoc. Dean for Research	Asst. Director Pre-doctoral Research
Grace Elson	Office of Academic Affairs	Asst. Director Academic Affairs
Lori Davis	Office of Academic Affairs	Manager Academic Affairs
Keri Ann Abbott	Dept. of Molecular and Cell Biology	Research Financial Administrator
Kelly Marcinkewich	Office of Assoc. Dean for Clinical Education	Operations Manager Clinical Education
Michelle Pare	Office of Admissions	Pre-doctoral Admissions Coordinator
Ashley Matsumura	Office of Assoc. Dean for Clinical Education	Clinic Education and Operations Administrator
Megan Bouchie	Dept. of Molecular and Cell Biology	Lab Manager
Lorletta Dirtion	Office of Finance Sr. Mgr	Clinical Finance
Adrienne Callaghan	Office of Communications	Online Communications Manager
Joanne Low	Dental Health Center – 930 Comm Ave.	Senior Assistant Coordinator
Asia Williams	Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery	Administrative Coordinator – OSGP
Alicia Ruff	Dept. of Periodontology and Oral Biology	Administrative Manager

Special Issue of the Journal of Public Health Dentistry

May 15, 2012

A special issue of the Journal of Public Health Dentistry – “Maryland Oral Health Summit: Pathways to Common Ground and Action: Background Papers and Commentaries” is now available online for free at:

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jphd.2012.72.issue-s1/issuetoc

The guest editors for the special issue are Dr. Dushanka Kleinman and Dr. Norman Tinanoff (CREEDD Project Co-PI).

 

CHP Tells Participants, “You Go Girl!”

April 30, 2012