Dental News - Those who help Holocaust survivors are honored in Chicago

Dental Tribune USA

Mon. 21 March 2016

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MELVILLE, N.Y., USA: Henry Schein Inc. recently joined the Alpha Omega (AO) International Dental Fraternity’s Chicago chapter in recognizing 28 area oral health professionals for their participation in a program that provides free dental care to Holocaust survivors in need.  The Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program was launched in November 2014 in response to the White House’s call to action to help Holocaust survivors age with dignity and respect.

To date, the program has provided free oral care to more than 140 economically vulnerable Holocaust survivors across North America. In Chicago, dental practitioners have finished treating 19 survivors and are currently treating 22 more.  The participating dentists were honored at a recent reception held at the Renaissance Chicago North Shore Hotel.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel congratulated the honorees, AO and Henry Schein Cares in a letter read at the event by AO Chicago chapter Ambassador Dr. Laurie Gordon Shaw.

 “The success of the Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program relies heavily on the generosity of local practitioners, and Henry Schein stands proudly with the Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity to honor and thank the Chicago-area oral health professionals for their dedication to this deserving group of people,” said Stanley M. Bergman, chairman of the board and CEO of Henry Schein Inc.

“Holocaust survivors have lived through the unspeakable, and it is incumbent upon the private and public sectors to ensure that essential health services are never beyond their reach,” Bergman said.

The initiative provides care to people identified by the network of Jewish Family and Children’s Service agencies or other identified partner organizations, as well as people of any faith who were victims of Nazi persecution and meet the program’s other eligibility requirements. In addition to financial need, patient participation is prioritized by three critical factors: the elimination of pain, restoration of function, and lack of dental coverage. Participating clinicians determine each patient’s scope of care.

 This program fills a critical need for many of the 120,000 Holocaust survivors living in the U.S., one quarter of whom live in poverty. Survivors often have special oral health needs, as many suffered from prolonged nutritional deprivation and had little to no dental care access as children during World War II. Originally launched in nine cities — Chicago, New York City, the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area, Boston, Philadelphia, Detroit, Seattle, Montreal and Toronto — the program has since expanded to Atlanta, Columbus, and Calgary.

 “Being the Ambassador of Chicago’s program has been one of the highlights of my career,” said Dr. Laurie Gordon Shaw. “I feel so privileged to be able to provide these patients, who have endured so much during the Holocaust, with the dental care they so desperately need while also giving them an opportunity to share their experiences. I feel so proud to be a member of Alpha Omega and to participate in this program, because if we did not take care of these patients, who would?”

 Honored at the event were: Dr. Laurie Gordon Shaw, Dr. Brent Agran, Dr. Natalie Baker, Dr. Sanford Barr, Dr. Jeffrey Bressman, Dr. Janet Century, Dr. Barry Cherny, Dr. Scott Emalfarb, Dr. William Feingold, Dr. Bruce Hochstadter, Dr. Richard Isaacson, Dr. David Kanarek, Dr. Paul Landman, Dr. Carole Landman Feingold, Dr. Bianca Malin, Dr. Alan Moltz, Dr. Robert Pick, Dr. Sergio Rubinstein, Dr. Milt Salzer, Dr. Sheldon Seidman, Dr. Wendy Shorry, Dr. Chuck Tannenbaum, Dr. Terri Tiersky, Dr. Dan Uditsky, Dr. Michael Wasserman, Dr. Howard Weisbart, Dr. Alan Weisz and Dr. Sam Weisz.

 “Alpha Omega’s Chicago chapter has demonstrated the highest form of kindness and charity by delivering, free of any charge, much-needed and deserved dental care to Holocaust survivors,” said program Co-Chair and AO Past International President Dr. Avi Wurman, DDS. “These survivors would not otherwise receive this dental treatment due to financial limitations, but now can eat without pain and proudly smile with dignity. The Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program thanks the wonderful Alpha Omega dentists for providing the excellent care to this very special group. We are all so proud of you.”

 In addition to their own offices, some participating dentists treated patients at The ARK, a not-for-profit, community-funded health and human services agency with facilities on Chicago’s North Side and in Northbrook, Ill. Dr. Oded Gargir of The ARK also treated patients as part of the program.  The Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program has received generous financial support from The Claire Friedlander Family Foundation and the Curt C. & Else Silberman Foundation. Additional support has been provided by the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, Bedford Health Care Solutions, The Dr. Edward B. Shils Entrepreneurial Fund, the Wagner Family  Foundation and the Slomo and Cindy Silvian Foundation.

A video offering more information on for more information about the Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program this available online, at www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc0PJGnVnCI&feature=youtu.be.

(Source: Henry Schein Inc.)

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