Taft Clinic- Care for Those In Need

The Jonathan Taft Honorary Dental Society is one of many student groups here at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.  As a member of the Taft Society’s executive board, I can say that it is an active group that is fun and easy to be a part of.  It is also one of the few that actively helps the community by providing dental care and in adjunct, learning opportunities for the students. The Taft Society was formed in 1965 and is named after the first Dean of the Dental School. The goals of the Taft Society are “fostering dental education and scholarship, engaging in various public service activities, encouraging cooperation between faculty and students, and initiating the future dentist into his or her role and responsibility in the community.” Following these goals, the Taft Honorary Dental Society hosts three free clinics a school year, organized by students with help from faculty and support staff, for underprivileged individuals from the community.

The first event of this year was on October 22, 2011 where 36 patients were seen for simple restorations, radiographs, and cleanings.  One patient was an extraordinary case, where she was even able to get her braces off after having them on for 20 years! The day began at 8:30am with fresh donuts, milk, chocolate milk, apple cider, coffee, bagels and cream cheese for all the volunteers.  It was a great way to start the day!  Breakfast was donated by the local Washtenaw Dairy, and Starbucks.

Vice President Mariya Volvovsky and President Dmitry Vodopyanov

While everyone was enjoying breakfast, TaftVice President Mariya Volvovsky spoke to the group about how the morning clinic would run. She addressed the protocol for the morning and introduced the faculty who were volunteering their Saturday morning.  The students were then ready to bring their patients back as if it were any normal clinic day! Patients came from all over Michigan, with many from Alpha House, an Ann Arbor temporary housing shelter .  Others were previous patients of the Dental School who were denied treatment due to finances. There was such an abundance of volunteers willing to help with the clinic that every provider even had an assistant, helping everything run smoothly.

Taft Clinic student providers are in various years of dental school, and are assigned to patients depending on the complexity of the case.  Second, third, and fourth year students provide the care, first year students assist, and pre-dental students do what they can to help. The morning session slowly closed around 12:15, with the patients grateful for being seen that day and wondering when the next event was, hoping they could be seen again.  Taft Clinic student providers are in various years of dental school, and are assigned to patients depending on the complexity of the case.  Second, third, and fourth year students provide the care, first year students assist, and pre-dental students do what they can to help. The morning session slowly closed around 12:15, with the patients grateful for being seen that day and wondering when the next event was, hoping they could be seen again. At the end of the event I asked the President of the Taft Society, Dmitry Vodopyanov, how he felt about having to get to school at 7am on a Saturday, and he said that he enjoys working hard to ensure that these clinics run smoothly. Furthermore, he states, “One of the benefits of working in the medical field is that you gain the knowledge and skills that can change people’s lives, and being able to use that knowledge to give back to the community that supports our school is a great feeling”. The students were obligated to do some extra cleaning, as the custodial staff wouldn’t be going through the clinics again that weekend.  Student volunteers were happy they could have another day of patient care experience and pleased with the help they could provide to those in need.   It was truly a great, productive morning at the University of Michigan Dental School for all!

To see a set of pictures from Taft Clinic, check out https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.275771779124347.72801.100000745814379&type=1

Andrew Horne, D3, is the Taft Honorary Dental Society Secretary and can be reached at arhorne@umich.edu