28th Philippines Meeting and Convocation
Philippines
Dean Diampo Lim of the Institute of Philippine Culture reported that the Foundation Scholarship Award will be presented to a student of Davao Medical Foundation upon the recommendation of Dean Erna Dimaya, a PFA Fellow, at Centro Escolar University.
CT-MOM Program in action
L-R, Trustee Richard Walsh, Past PFA President Howard Mark, Award recipients Drs. Michael Perl, Robert Schriebman, and Ernest Spira, with Chair Robin Santiago
Connecticut
Chair Robin Santiago had a banner year for the Connecticut Section, including completion of the first Connecticut Mission of Mercy event (CT-MOM). This program was initiated in Kansas as a concept of supplying some dental care for the large numbers of underinsured and uninsured adults. They felt that delivery of any care was better than none at all. This would hopefully lessen the impact on expensive emergency treatment. This program has spread in popularity to Nebraska, Virginia, and Tennessee and is now being held in Colorado, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Connecticut. The driving force behind its success in Connecticut is the compassion and dedication of Drs. Michael Perl, Robert Schreibman, and Ernest Spira. They enlisted the support of the Connecticut State Dental Association. The event was held last April with more than 800 volunteers participating with 170 dental providers (including 25 PFA Fellows) treating some 1,250 patients rendering nearly a half million dollars in dental care. The next CT-MOM will be held in New Haven in April 2009.
A Foundation grant of $7,500 allowed for the purchasing of supplies. Another is being requested for the project in 2009. While not a major answer for fixing the dental health crisis, this project generated all sorts of publicity to raise awareness of this need not only in the public's mind but before legislators as well.
The Section was very proud of this tremendous effort and voted to recognize the doctors behind its success at their May PFA/ICD annual Awards and Induction Luncheon where they presented their Section's Distinguished Service Awards to Drs. Michael Perl, Robert Schreibman, and Ernest Spira.
Eleven new Fellows were inducted into membership by Section Chair Robin Santiago and past PFA President Howard Mark, including Dean R. Lamont MacNeil. Dr. MacNeil addressed the gathering concerning his plans for the future development of the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine.
Also in attendance as ICD Regent for District 1 was longtime PFA favorite and former Rhode Island Chair Dr. Christine Benoit, who addressed the attendees on future college projects. Past President Howard Mark gave remarks with the current Rhode Island Chair and Regional Trustee Richard Walsh assisting.
Dean MacNeil of the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine presented the Foundation Scholarship to dental school junior Kyle Sorensen last April presented by Connecticut Section Chair Robin Santiago. In attendance were past PFA President Howard Mark, Dean Lamont "Monty" MacNeil, and Associate Dean of Students Michael Goupil.
New Connecticut Fellows
L-R. Dean Lonnie Norris, recipient Douglas Delli Colli, and Dr Peter Delli Colli
L-R, PFA Past President Howard Mark, Dean Lamont MacNeil, recipient Kyle Sorensen, Chair Robin Santiago, and Associate Dean Michael Goupil
Scholarship recipient Pawandeep Gill receiving Award from Fellow Dr. Robert Ho.
Massachusetts
At the 15th Annual Tufts University School of Dental Medicine Senior Awards Dinner last May the Foundation Scholarship was presented to student Douglas Delli Colli. Chair Norman Becker made the arrangements through Katherine Vosker, the Associate Dean of Student Affairs.
California
PFA Fellow Clinical Professor Robert Ho presented the Foundation Scholarship Award to senior student Pawandeep Gill at the School of Dentistry, University of California- San Francisco.