Sharing Smiles Day recognized for making the community brighter Schulich Dentistrys chapter of Oral Health, Total

Health, and all the participants at this years Sharing Smiles Day, have one more reason to smile. The event was selected as one of three finalists for a Pillar Community Innovation Award. These awards celebrate all the great work by nonprofit sector organizations, people and partners to make our community brighter. On November 19th, 700 people attended the Pillar Nonprofit Network Awards at the London Convention Centre to see the finalists and recipients honoured. No one was happier to be there than the vice dean and director of Schulich Dentistry, Dr. Harinder Sandhu. I felt a huge sense of pride and elation when Schulich Dentistry students were recognized as one of the three finalists by Pillar. Its immensely gratifying to know that that our students embrace social responsibility as one of their core values." For the past four years, Schulich Dentistrys student-led Oral Health, Total Health organization has invited people with special needs to come to Westerns Great Hall for a fun-filled day. More than 120 volunteers including students, faculty, dentists and hygienists, as well as 80 participants from Community Living London and other organizations took part in the 2013 event. The day is designed to break down attitudinal barriers for both dentists and patients. It starts off with a carnival morning featuring games and face-painting, followed by lunch. And in the afternoon, there are demonstrations and tips on oral hygiene, with students providing one-onone care and attention. People with special needs are an underserviced population. A lot of dentists in our community and even in our school are hesitant to work with children with special needs or adults with special needs because they require different care, says co-coordinator Tara Kennedy, now in third year at Schulich Dentistry. The event provides a really unique exposure for students. Kennedy had a special motivation to join Oral Health, Total Health. I had a lot of experience working with kids with special needs and I knew this was something I wanted to get involved with. Kathleen Martin, also a third year student and co-coordinator adds, As dental students, we get so wrapped up in school work and hanging out around the dental building that we forget theres a whole real world out there of patients that were going to have in the future, and its honestly such a fun day. Fundraising is already underway for Sharing Smiles Day 2014.