Dr. Frank Schiano: A Rising Star in Community Health Dentistry
The Boston Business Journal recently spotlighted GSDM Clinical Assistant Professor Dr. Frank Schiano’s amazing work as Director of Dentistry at Fenway Health. Dr. Schiano is a 2006 graduate of GSDM’s DMD program and a 2007 graduate of the AEGD program. Shortly after completing the AEGD program, he was named Dentistry Director at Fenway Health.
Fenway Health is located on Boylston Street, near Fenway Park. The organization’s mission is to enhance the wellbeing of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and all people in their neighborhoods and beyond through access to the highest quality health care, education, research, and advocacy.
The Center opened 2½ years ago, and Dr. Schiano is the first Dentistry Director. He is very passionate about his job, but explains that there are challenges and benefits to working in a community health center setting.
He said, “Because of the population we serve, many patients have behavioral health issues or substance abuse issues. Methadone is one of the substances we see and it has ramifications for oral health, in terms of rampant carries, dry mouth, etc. It’s been very challenging because there’s a lot involved in restoring teeth to what they were before and then to keep them out of relapse, working with their addiction specialist, and psychologists.”
On the positive side he noted: “I work with an extremely diverse patient population, and the dentists, physicians, and other providers really work together to treat patients. That’s the best part about working at a community health center.”
Having found an excellent home for his skills at Fenway Health, Dr. Schiano is eager to expose GSDM students to community health center career options, and made sure that Fenway Health became an APEX Externship location. One student, Jeff Wnuk DMD 10, enjoyed his externship so much that in February 2011 he accepted a full-time position.
The article, “Fenway dental chief plays key role in community health,” is available online. (An account is required to access it in full.)