Research Issue - Harvard School of Dental Medicine

global health fo cusGlobal Health FocusProviding Care in the Dominican RepublicHarvard Dental Center’s Susan Cottrell and US students worked in a resource-poor area.When some people think of the dominican republic,they think of fancy resorts and famous baseball players. Butthere is another side to the “DR”: the southern coast. This areahas no fancy hotels or restaurants or big shopping malls. Inthis resource-poor region lies the town of La Sanona, whereelectricity is a luxury and running water is scarce—and wherethree 10th graders from Dover/Sherborn (Mass.) High Schooland two former students (now college freshmen) spent fourdays last January. Boston-area pediatrician Dr. Karen Sadlerand dental hygienist Susan Cottrell, HSDM’s health and safetycoordinator for the Faculty Group Practice of the HarvardDental Center, performed dental screenings and cleaningsand applied sealants for 500 children ages 5 to 12, with theyoung adults assisting. The US visitors also helped restore abaseball field, provided baseball supplies donated by familiesback home, and even managed to get in a baseball game withsome local boys. The group plans to make the trip an annualservice event and hopes to return to La Sanona in spring 2011.HAbove: The US visitors hold a clinic to teach localchildren how to brush their teeth and other importantaspects of oral health. In addition to providing oralhealth education, the US volunteers performed dentalscreenings and cleanings and applied sealants for some500 children in La Sanona.Above left: US teenager Ben Newbert, left, discussesproper teeth-brushing techniques with a local child.Left: Houses in La Sanona, Dominican Republic.19