Dental News - Grant from Delta Dental funds Columbia University mobile care unit

Dental Tribune USA

Tue. 8 January 2019

save

NEW YORK, N.Y., USA: The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation recently announced it has awarded Columbia University College of Dental Medicine (CDM) a $585,000 grant to purchase a new mobile dental clinic to serve children in Harlem, Washington Heights, Inwood and the Bronx through the school’s Community DentCare program.

The new van, replacing an older vehicle, will help CDM improve access to dental care for underserved children, many of whom rely upon the clinic as their sole source of oral health care. It will also reach previously inaccessible sites, reduce costs and upgrade the clinic with state-of-the-art equipment custom-designed for CDM.

At present, DentCare’s mobile clinic visits nearly 70 Head Start, daycare and foster care facilities, providing over 3,000 dental visits per year, regardless of ability to pay. Through six school-based clinics in underserved communities, DentCare provided approximately 26,000 dental visits in the last three years. The program also offers oral health screenings to the elderly at local community centers.

“As the largest provider of oral health care in our upper Manhattan communities, Columbia University relies on our mobile clinic to care for children most in need,” said Christian S. Stohler, DMD, DrMedDent, dean of Columbia University College of Dental Medicine and senior vice president of Columbia University Irving Medical Center. “Delta Dental’s generosity will help us improve our facilities as well as our reach. We are deeply grateful for their generosity.”

“Our foundation’s mission is to increase access to quality dental care and we could not do so without dedicated partners such as Columbia University,” said Karen Robinson, vice president of corporate affairs for Delta Dental and executive director of the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation. “Together, we can make a lasting impact to improve the health and enhance the lives of children and adults in New York.”

The grant is one of 20 given in New York this year by the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation to help improve the oral health of disadvantaged children and adults by removing barriers to quality dental care. Since its inception in 2011, the Foundation has awarded more than $2.5 million in grants to organizations throughout New York.

(Source: Columbia University College of Dental Medicine)