Dr. David Dano Meets with U.S. Legislators to Discuss Oral Health

Dr. David Dano, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Dr. Jack Fingrut
Dr. David Dano, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Dr. Jack Fingrut

On Monday, April 24 and Tuesday, April 25, 2017 Dr. David Dano AEGD 12, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry, met with Senator Elizabeth Warren, as well as the staff members for Senator Edward Markey and Representative Katherine Clark to discuss the oral health care needs of Holocaust survivors. These meetings coincided with Holocaust Remembrance Day.

More than 30 dentists from across the United States who provide pro-bono services via the Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program came to Capitol Hill to make their voices heard in key legislative offices.

The Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program fills a critical need for many of the more than 100,000 Holocaust survivors living in the U.S., an approximate one third of whom live in poverty. In its two years of operating, more than 600 economically vulnerable Holocaust survivors have received treatment through the program across North America. Survivors often have special oral health needs, as many suffered from prolonged nutritional deprivation and had little to no access to dental care as children during World War II.

The program operates in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati & Columbus Ohio, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York City, the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, the Washington DC metropolitan area, and West Hartford, Connecticut in the U.S., and Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, and Winnipeg in Canada.

“It was a great honor to take part in the Capitol Hill Education Day and to meet with my Congressional delegation, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, to discuss the Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program,” said Dr. Dano. “This program provides pro-bono oral care for Holocaust survivors nationwide. It truly represents the mission of our organization, which is to embrace the spirit of Tikkun Olam, or to heal the world through charitable endeavors.”

Dr. Dano continued, “I grew up in Israel. Members of my immediate family are Holocaust survivors. Helping survivors has always been something that I have kept close to my heart. We all have the moral obligation to never forget, and to do everything in our power to improve the quality of life of these survivors.”

“By being part of Alpha Omega, each of us has the ability to make a real difference in our everyday practice, our community and our profession. The Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program is such a worthy cause and we are hopeful that more dentists will join us in improving the function and quality of life of those impacted by the Holocaust,” Dr. Dano concluded.

The group plans on following up on their Capitol Hill visits with in-district legislator meetings during the August Congressional District work period.