GSDM Raises Prosthodontics Awareness
On Saturday, March 6, students, residents, and faculty from the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Department of Restorative Sciences/Biomaterials partnered with Division of Community Health Programs (CHP) Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri to provide dental outreach at a Cancer Awareness Health Fair. The fair was held at the Iglesia Cristiana Nueve Vida Church in East Boston and was sponsored by UMass Boston, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the Latino Health Insurance Program, and the host church.
In addition to addressing issues related to cancer, the organizers also sought to address issues related to health disparities in Boston—which is where GSDM came in. The Massachusetts Section of the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) and GSDM arranged to promote oral health by providing oral health information and oral screenings as part of National Prosthodontics Awareness Week.
A special room at the event was dedicated to dental screenings where volunteers from GSDM, including residents and faculty members Clinical Associate Professor and Past President of the Massachusetts Section of the ACP Dr. Hideo Yamamoto and Clinical Associate Professor and President of the Massachusetts Section of the ACP Dr. Shiro Kamachi, screened children and adults. Volunteers from Harvard also participated in the outreach effort.
“ACP is celebrating their 40th anniversary this year,” said Dr. Kamachi. “This was a perfect opportunity for us to serve the community and introduce our specialty to the public. I thank Ms. Kathy Lituri for giving us the opportunity and the DMD students and residents of Post-doctoral prosthodontics from BU and Harvard who participated in the event. They did a great job.”