GSDM Students and Faculty Volunteer at Local Brazilian Independence Day Festival
On Sunday, September 7, 2014, Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) students and faculty volunteered their time at the Brazilian Independence Day Festival at the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Herter Park in Boston. Attending the event was an opportunity for GSDM students and faculty to interact with Brazilian families from around the area, learn about Brazilian culture, and to promote oral health.
The Festival was hosted by the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS), whose mission is to improve the lives of Portuguese-speaking individuals and families from Massachusetts and help them become contributing, active participants in American society while maintaining a strong ethnic identity and a sense of community. MAPS works with and for the Brazilian, Cape Verdean, Portuguese, and other Portuguese-speaking communities to increase access and remove barriers to health, education, and social services through advocacy, leadership, and community development.
Also onsite were representatives from the Boston Public Health Commission HIV Dental Program to raise awareness about HIV and all aspects of oral health as it pertains to children and adults—such as oral health considerations for people living with HIV/AIDS.
The event kicked off with a performance of the Brazilian National Anthem followed by activities such as face painting, drawing, pony rides, live performances, and ethnic food tastings. Various health-related organizations were on site to provide screenings for attendees. GSDM students and faculty offered dental screenings and talked to attendees about the importance of oral health.
Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter said, “I want to thank our student and faculty volunteers for attending the Brazilian Independence Day Festival event.” He continued, “Your efforts promoting oral health to the local community are highly valued and greatly appreciated.”
GSDM faculty volunteers were: Pre-doctoral Patient Treatment Center Practice Leader Dr. Angela Cancado, Director of Diversity & Multicultural Affairs Dr. Larry Dunham, Clinical Instructor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research Dr. Martin Ugarte-Chavez, and Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri. GSDM student volunteers were Omer Al Azizi DMD 15, Monique Alves DMD 17, Bernadette Campos-Therriault AS 15, Nicholas Capezio DMD 18, Shelby Curtis DMD 16, Michelle Darocha DMD 15, Tamara Gordon DMD 18, Peyman Kafri DMD 16, Navtej Kang AS 16, Ana Keohane AS 16, Sandip Ladani AS 16, Lana Le DMD 16, Andrea Lugo AS 16, Aaron Mertz DMD 16, Caroline Michaels DMD 18, Rafaella Sampaio DMD 18, Shivani Shirgavi AS 15, Neha Sood AS 15, Nobiru Suzuki DMD 18, Faraz Tartibi DMD 16, John Westres DMD 15, and Tiphannie Yin DMD 17. Also in attendance was GSDM graduate Abdul-Rahman Addas DMD 14.
Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.