Veterans Event Draws Student Volunteers With Ties to Armed Forces
Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Division of Community Health Programs (CHP) Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri led a team of volunteers at the Massachusetts Stand Down at Clifford Park on August 27 and 28. The two-day event, presented by the VA Boston Healthcare System in cooperation with Volunteers of America Massachusetts, offers homeless and at-risk veterans in Boston critical benefits and services, such as food, clothing, medical and dental treatment, housing referrals and placement, and career and job counseling.
GSDM provided dental screenings, toothbrushes, toothpaste, denture cleanings, and referrals to the veterans. In total, 30 students and several faculty and staff members from GSDM volunteered their time and efforts to this event. Many of the student volunteers are attending GSDM through the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) and the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHS), so this event especially resonated with them.
“I am currently in the HPSP with the US Air Force,” said volunteer Stephanie Trahan DMD 11. “I think it is very important for GSDM to participate in Massachusetts Stand Down because these are people who served our country and helped provide us with our ongoing freedom, who are now left homeless and without proper medical care. I am saddened by the whole situation but I feel if we can help in any way, it is important to do so.”
Lituri added, “I want to thank the volunteers for their help with Massachusetts Stand Down. With their contributions, we were able to screen nearly 175 veterans over a two day period. They are all to be commended for taking time out of their busy schedules to volunteer for this event and it was really nice to see so many HPSP and USPHS scholars there.”