Dental News - New York dental group travels to Cuba on humanitarian trip

Search Dental Tribune

New York dental group travels to Cuba on humanitarian trip

Bernard Fialkoff, DDS, and the Fialkoff Dental Study Club trip participants and Bob Schwartz, executive of Disarm/Global Health Partners, present dental supply donations during their recent humanitarian trip to Cuba. (Photo: Fialkoff Dental Study Club)
Dental Tribune USA

Dental Tribune USA

Thu. 24 April 2014

save

QUEENS, N.Y., USA: The Fialkoff Dental Study Club, founded by Dr. Bernard Fialkoff, a New York periodontist and dental implant specialist, traveled to Cuba recently on a humanitarian mission. The 16-member group, which included dentists from the tri-state area, donated dental equipment and met with Cuban dentists, dental students and public health specialists during a five day stay in Havana.

Disarm/Global Health Partners, a nonprofit organization that has donated more than $120 million worth of medicines and medical supplies to Cuba over the past 20 years, enabled the dental delegation’s visit. Bob Schwartz, executive director of Disarm/Global Health Partners, said he found the club’s goal to be worthy of support.

In addition to Fialkoff and Schwartz, participants included Dr. Kaveh Niknia, Dr. Edward Portnoy, Dr. Charles Pellicane, Dr. Deborah Zivari, Dr. Matthew Lee, Dr. Jonelle Cox, Dr. Elie Marzouk and others. Javier Bajana, Disarm/GHP’s Latin American program director, and Meghan Fialkoff, Dr. Fialkoff’s community affairs director, were responsible for travel logistics.

Fialkoff, who was born in Cuba 55 years ago, was asked by members of the Dental Study Club to make the trip a reality.

“To assume the title of doctor means more than restoring teeth,” Fialkoff said. “We have responsibilities to the patient, which will continue to grow as science and research expand the body of knowledge. Entrenchment in old fashioned ideas leads to steady decline especially if outlook towards the future is ignored.”

The dentist participants said they hope humanitarian activities like these can help ameliorate conflicts and misunderstandings.

The Study Club includes dentists from the five boroughs, Westchester and Long Island. Each month the group meets in Queens to discuss dental techniques and new procedures in dentistry. Recent topics included “Evidence Based Shade Taking —Achieving the Superior Cosmetic Restoration,” “Periodontal Plastic Surgery” and “Sleep Apnea and Snoring — Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment Methods.”

(Source: Fialkoff Dental Study Club)

 

To post a reply please login or register
advertisement
advertisement