GSDM Outreach Focuses on Local Adult Learners
Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Division of Community Health Programs (CHP) Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri and a team of student volunteers provided outreach to adult learners at the Notre Dame Educational Center (NDEC) in South Boston on November 16.
The outreach efforts involved health promotion, education, screenings, and referrals. The student volunteers were comprised mainly of members of the GSDM Chapters of the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) and the Hispanic Student Dental Association (HSDA). Lituri encouraged all students to participate, but thought the event would be especially relevant to those with an interest in the oral health issues faced by immigrants and other adult learners.
GSDM was introduced to the need for oral health education at NDEC by a former teacher at the Center and wife of third-year DMD student Derrick Call. Call brought his wife’s observations to ASDA Community Outreach Co-Chair Courtney Brady DMD 11, and the duo—with the help of Co-Chair Jenny Lorenzo DMD 13 and Dee Gulis DMD 12—served as student organizers for the event.
“The Center is for adult students who are learning English as a second language (ESL),” said Lorenzo. “Derrick’s wife saw a need for dental health education at the Center and she also noticed that most students had MassHealth and weren’t aware that they could come to BU for their dental treatment.”
Lorenzo continued, “We screened 40 students and provided dental health education and toothbrushes and toothpaste. The event was a great success and the Center is looking forward to doing a morning session with BU again sometime in the spring semester.”