In one busy week in September, UNMC College of Dentistry students and faculty volunteered at three community outreach events, offering care, screenings and education to Nebraskans who might not otherwise have access to them.
Eighteen dental students and four faculty members took part. They assisted people who are uninsured, underserved or experiencing homelessness at Project Connect, provided oral health screenings at the Harvest Moon Festival and helped screen more than 250 tenth-grade students at Pius X High School.
For Frank Lonie, a third-year dental student, volunteering at Project Connect was a return to where his interest in dentistry began. Lonie first volunteered at the event as a high school senior.
“Returning to Project Connect as a dental student was a meaningful full-circle moment,” Lonie said. “It reminded me how far I have come since first exploring the profession.”
Lonie also noticed that many people didn’t know about resources that could help them get dental care. Volunteers connected them with organizations such as Clinic with a Heart, the People’s City Mission and the UNMC College of Dentistry.
“It was especially rewarding to connect community members with these resources and help them take steps toward receiving the oral healthcare that everyone deserves,” Lonie said.
Dinna Abou Ibrahim, a student in the Advanced Standing Dental Program, said her goals were both practical and educational. “As a Project Connect volunteer, my goal was to provide screenings, promote oral health awareness within the community and help connect individuals with accessible dental care resources,” Abou Ibrahim said.
The events also offered lessons beyond the classroom. “These experiences allow students like me to engage with people from diverse backgrounds and understand how factors such as cost, transportation, access to care and education influence oral health,” she said.
Abou Ibrahim saw those factors firsthand. “Financial constraints and limited access to dental services can prevent individuals from receiving regular dental care,” she said. “This highlights the value of community outreach programs that can help reduce such barriers for underserved populations.”
The UNMC College of Dentistry’s outreach continues next week. On Tuesday, Oct. 20, students Bella Bonneau, Ciera Haynes and Mady Cole will provide oral health education at the UNL Employee Wellness and Community Resource Fair, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the UNL Coliseum.