Supporting smiles at the 4th Annual Special Olympics Unified Health Event

Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine students took learning outside the classroom on Nov. 6,  participating in an annual Special Olympics health outreach event. The 4th Annual Unified Health Event, hosted by the Special Olympics Ohio Healthy Athletes program, offered free physicals and health screenings to children from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD).

At the event, School of Dental Medicine students and pediatric dental residents provided oral exams, oral health education and oral hygiene supplies for 150 CMSD student athletes. Fourth-year dental students Fouad Ahmed, Mark Piroutek and Millenia Kitikul; pediatric dental residents Margo Nash, DMD, and Kara Benkovich, DMD; dental assistant Aeysha Kisner; and associate professor Suparna Mahalaha, DDS, conducted intraoral and extraoral exams to assess oral health and educate the students.

“Outreach like this is important to develop trust in our patient communities, provide oral health education and to lead with compassion,” said Mahalaha.

Other recent outreach included a visit to senior living center Eliza Bryant Village for an oral health education event, and Give Kids a Smile Day, where 85 children from CMSD received cleanings and dental care at the School of Dental Medicine.