November 15, 2009
YKHC Dental Dir. Brian Hollander DMD, Tom and Rosemary Kardos, Judy Hollander, Mary Williard DDS, Dr. Caswell Evans, Pam Tolson, and Jerry Drake of the BCS Foundation arrive at Kwethluk
New Zealand visitors study Dental Health Aide program
YKHC Public Relations
Bethel Community Services Foundation (BCS), Yuut Elitnaurviat, Kwethluk village clinic and YKHC's Dental Department hosted a group of special visitors on November 4.
Dr. Caswell Evans, Associate Dean of Public Health Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, along with Pam Tolson, Executive Director of the American Association of Public Health Dentistry and Dr. Tom Kardos and Rosemary Kardos of Otago University Department of Oral Sciences (New Zealand), had a chance to meet with the YK Delta's experts in the science of oral health.
The group started out their visit in Anchorage, hosted primarily by the Rasmuson Foundation, the Kellogg Foundation and ANTHC's DENTEX program before heading to Bethel to be welcomed by Yuut Elitnaurviat and and BCS. The group toured the Yuut DHAT facilities under the coordination of Kathy Balasko and interacted with some of the students enrolled in the program.
"These individuals played an instrumental role in advancing the practice of the dental therapist mid-level workforce model in Alaska," said Mary Williard, Clinical Site Director of ANTHC's DENTEX program and former YKHC dentist who accompanied the group.
Dr. Brian Hollander, YKHC Dental Director said, "the DHAT program is going to continue to play a very instrumental role in our fight against dental caries throughout our region, and hosting this group is just one way we can say ‘thank you' for helping us champion the DHAT model into our service of care model."
The highlight of the visit for the group was flying out to the community of Kwethluk by small aircraft and visiting the village clinic, where they were greeted by Health Aides Martha Olick, CHP IV, and Michelle Olick, CHP IV.
