ATSU-ASDOH provides free dental services during Grand Canyon University’s back-to-school clothing drive for underserved youth
Posted: August 27, 2019
Students and faculty from A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH) provided free dental care to uninsured and underinsured children at Grand Canyon University’s (GCU) back-to-school clothing drive. Nearly 1,000 children received free dental screenings and fluoride varnish applications at the event, while thousands more participated in educational STEM activities to learn about oral health. GCU hosts the annual event to prepare students enrolled in local Title I schools for a successful academic year. In addition to dental care and education, children received backpacks, supplies, and school uniforms. This was ATSU-ASDOH’s fourth year participating in the event.
“The GCU back-to-school clothing drive was such an incredible embodiment of the power of community partnerships,” says Rachel Lederman, second-year student at ATSU-ASDOH. “I felt lucky to be able to provide screenings, preventive care and, perhaps most importantly, dental education to nearly 50 children in just one day of service. Seeing dentistry improve the lives of the most vulnerable populations was very meaningful to me and reminded me of why I chose this path.”