Muslim Student Associations Join Together to Honor North Carolina Dental Student
Muslim dental students and the Muslim Student Association (MSA) came together on March 21, 2015 to honor the memory of a fellow dental student. Students from the Muslim Student Associations at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM), Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, New York University College of Dentistry, and Rutgers School of Dental Medicine all collaborated at an event called “Downtown Smiles” to honor the memory of University of North Carolina dental student Deah Barakat, his wife, and her sister, who were tragically killed on February 10, 2015 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
According to the Downtown Smiles Facebook Page, Barakat always thought of those in need before himself. Before his passing, he helped organize events where free food, toothbrushes, and toothpaste were given to those in need. To honor his legacy, MSA members from all four schools came together to pass out oral health kits to locals in need.
Prior to the Downtown Smiles event, GSDM MSA members and Student Affairs collaborated with the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) and the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center (ISBCC) to hold a fundraiser to purchase toothbrushes, toothpaste, alcohol-free mouthwash, and dental floss. The students arranged the items into kits and handed them out at the Downtown Smiles event. They also distributed them at Global Days of Service projects throughout the month of April. Volunteers from GSDM and the greater Boston community assembled a total of 2,084 oral health kits.
Students representing GSDM at the Downtown Smiles event were: Passant Abdel Megeed AS 15; Amr Aly DMD 17; and Sara Elashaal DMD 17. President of the GSDM MSA Amr Aly said, “We began all of this in memory of Deah Barakat and his family. Deah was an inspiration and we decided to honor his legacy as fellow dental students and fellow Muslims.”
The aim of the Muslim Student Association at GSDM is to foster a sense of unity among students regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, or origin. MSA’s mission is to hold service-oriented, educational, and social events to promote religious and cultural awareness among students, faculty, staff and the greater community of Boston. As future healthcare providers, the members of MSA are dedicated to making a difference within the communities of Boston, while striving to embrace Islamic values and culture.