Third Healthy Smile, Healthy You Event is a Success
On Friday, November 20, 2015, the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Muslim Student Association (MSA), in collaboration with the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center (ISBCC) and GSDM’s Office of Global and Population Health (GPH), organized the third Healthy Smile, Healthy You event for the local community.
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.
At the Healthy Smile, Healthy You event—which was open to the public—21 GSDM students, 7 faculty members, and 1 pre-dental student volunteered to provide a wide range of oral health promotion, education, age appropriate activities, and screenings for the general public. The event was a huge success. Forty-five attendees were screened. GSDM volunteers performed various functions: screening; taking registrations; manning information tables; acting as runners; and greeting guests at the front door.
Located in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and built in 2002, the ISBCC is the largest Islamic center in New England, and the second largest on the East Coast. The 70,000 square foot structure is not just a mosque, but a dynamic cultural center that is designed to serve the entire community. Many of the GSDM volunteers are already active at the ISBCC, and the Healthy Smile, Healthy You event gave them an opportunity to give back to their local community.
“I am very pleased with the outstanding participation of GSDM students and faculty at this event,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “GSDM is committed to improving global health, around the world and right here at home in Boston.”
The Healthy Smile, Healthy You event, which lasted from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., was organized by MSA President Amr Aly DMD 17 and Dr. Mona Hatami DMD 10, AEGD 15, ENDO 18, in collaboration with the Office of Global and Population Health. The MSA had also planned two Healthy Smile, Healthy You events previously. The first event took place in October 2014, and the second took place in March 2015.
“The GSDM volunteers at the Healthy Smile, Healthy You event certainly had a positive impact on the many people who attended,” said Clinical Instructor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research and Oral Health Promotion Director in the Office of Global and Population Health Ms. Kathy Lituri. “The various volunteer activities that the GSDM students could participate in allowed them to gain real-world experience, while also providing a necessary service to members of their local community.”
Student volunteers at the Healthy Smile, Healthy You event:
Ramy Allam AS 16; Yousef Alnowailaty ENDO 17; Mishali AlSharief DPH 17, PERIO 14; Fahad Alwthinani PROS 15; Amr Aly DMD 16; Sanaa Bhimji AS 16; Rubbiya Charania DMD 16; Mansi Chokshi AS 16; Mira Daljeet DMD 18; Aditi Doctor AS 16; Muntaha Hasan DMD 19; Mona Hatami DMD 10, AEGD 15, ENDO 18; Mina Jassam DMD 18; Noor Jawad DMD 18; Ahmed Jawad DMD 16; Marva Khalid DMD 18; Jiffry Kolonda DMD 18; Mona Najafi DMD 17; Nora Nakshabendi DMD 16; Akram Sannaa AS 16; Hashem Shehadeh DMD 18; Moaz Zanbarakji pre-dent volunteer.
Faculty and staff volunteers at the Healthy Smile, Healthy You event:
Clinical Associate in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Reem Al Jamaan; Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry and Director of Pre-doctoral Clinical Remediation Dr. Lina Al-Aswad; Clinical Instructor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research and Program Dentist for Smart Smiles in the Boston Public Schools Dr. Lina Benslimane; Clinical Instructor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research and Oral Health Promotion Director in the Office of Global and Population Health Ms. Kathy Lituri; Clinical Instructor in the Department of Global & Population Health Dr. Mohammad Mourad; Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Hesham Nouh; Clinical Instructor in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Manal Saadoun.
Photos from the Healthy Smile, Healthy You event can be found on Facebook and Flickr.