Early in my dental training, I spent a week in a rural village in India that permanently shaped my understanding of this profession. Our volunteer team examined and treated nearly 6,000 schoolchildren in just seven days. The numbers were overwhelming, but what stayed with me was not the statistics; it was the human moments. I remember a young… Read More »
Feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated? Doom scrolling not giving you the sense of purpose you thought it would? In today’s world, volunteering offers something truly rare: a moment to pause, connect and make a meaningful impact — in a way an app can’t. While most people think of volunteering as something that benefits the community, the truth is that… Read More »
As a board-eligible public health dentist with experience in federally qualified health centers and safety net dental programs, I’ve seen firsthand how oral health policies shape access to care. Now, as a policy consultant for my state’s Medicaid dental program, I work at the intersection of policy and practice — translating systemic challenges into meaningful solutions. Access to… Read More »
I started working with seniors and patients with special health care needs last year. This was a result of my general practice residency, during which I learned how to care for patients with more complex needs. Finding care for many of these patients is especially difficult. Some patients are restricted because of resources or their support systems; others… Read More »
Six-year-old C.J. had a mouth filled with cavities. At school, he would hide his smile, keeping his mouth closed to avoid bullying. At home, he would only eat soft foods, fearful of the pain eating caused. His school nurse and pediatrician tried to get him to open his mouth, to see the severity of dental disease, but he… Read More »
I began working with Dental Lifeline Network about four years ago. I was introduced into the program by my father who has been a volunteer for many years. One of my Dental Lifeline Network patients was an elderly woman who had been to many other offices without success. She had numerous health challenges and was receiving treatment for… Read More »