Atlanta outreach forges local ties

Atlanta鈥擠entist volunteers and students from the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Pre-Dental Society lent a helping hand to patients in need Dec. 20, 2008.

The group came together for free dental screenings for all patients, and cleanings and sealants for children, at City of Refuge, an Atlanta-based organization that provides a variety of services to families in need, such as food, clothing and shelter; job training; and transportation. A total of 41 patients were treated including 29 children, 20 of whom received sealants.

Drs. John W. Harden Jr., adjunct faculty member at the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry, and Evis Babo, a graduate of the ADA Institute for Diversity in Leadership, performed the care. Four dental students from MCG and four students from the Georgia Tech Pre-Dental Society assisted Drs. Babo and Harden, while also educating patients on oral health care.

Patients with urgent needs were given information on free or low-cost area dental clinics, and all patients left with gift bags containing toothpaste, floss, a toothbrush and oral hygiene instructions. The event was made possible through student fundraising, Delta Dental of California and Oral Health America, said James Lee, Georgia Tech Dental Outreach coordinator.

“It’s important for students to understand the shortages in health care and begin efforts to improve them,” said Mr. Lee. “I strongly believe that students who participate in outreach events can develop compassionate hearts that are beneficial to their future careers in health care.”

“Being able to come back as a dental student was so rewarding because I was able to help hands-on,” said Shannon Fatehi, a first year dental student at the Medical College of Georgia who founded Georgia Tech’s PDS in 2004. “You don’t need to travel around the world to help people; it’s nice to make a local connection and help someone who could be your neighbor.”

Added Shivane Gupta, a junior dental student at MCG: “It’s always exciting to volunteer at outreach events coordinated by Tech’s Pre-Dental Society. I have the opportunity to help provide a valuable service to the patients in need, obtain the mentorship of exemplary community dentists, and reconnect with pre-dental students eager to explore their future careers as dentists.”

This was the second outreach effort for Georgia Tech’s Pre-Dental Society. For more information, visit the organization’s Web site at www.gtpredental.com.