Sanjay Kataria DMD 16 mans the HIV Dental Work Group booth
From January 29 to January 31, 2015, students from Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) volunteered at the HIV Dental Work Group booth at the 2015 Yankee Dental Congress (YDC). They joined students from Boston-area dental and dental hygiene schools as well as staff from GSDM and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) to provide information to visitors about HIV and oral health.
The HIV Dental Work Group is part of the BPHC AIDS/HIV Ombudsperson Program, a dental program designed to facilitate access to oral health care for people living with HIV/AIDS. The program offers education, dental referrals, and advocacy for people with HIV/AIDS. In addition, the HIV Dental Work Group strives to provide accurate information to dental professionals about HIV/AIDS and how it impacts oral health. It also gives students an opportunity to learn more about issues related to HIV/AIDS. This marked the HIV Work Group’s 17th year of providing an educational exhibit on HIV/AIDS oral health issues and infection control at YDC.
Volunteers handed out information packets, talked to visitors, and assisted in collecting consumables to donate to programs for people living with HIV/AIDS in Massachusetts. Many of the GSDM volunteers are from the student chapter of the American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD), who helped organize the effort.
Oral Health Promotion Director Ms. Kathy Lituri said, “The students had a great on-site experience and left knowing a little more about HIV and oral health. They were able to spend time with people living with HIV/AIDS, and learn firsthand about the oral health issues they encounter. Thank you for all of your efforts.”
Volunteers were: Caroline Adams DMD 18, Nicolas Branshaw DMD 16, Nicholas Capezio DMD 18, McAllister Castelaz DMD 17 (AAPHD), Setu Choksi DMD 16, Shelby Curtis DMD 16 (AAPHD), Brittany Dacier CAS 15, Sanjay Kataria DMD 16, Anna Komnatnaya DMD 16 (AAPHD), Andrea Lam DMD 16 (AAPHD), Hyunah Lee DMD 16 (AAPHD), Oral Health Promotion Director Ms. Kathy Lituri, Siddhi Mehta AS 16 (AAPHD), Michelle Prieto DMD 16, Hilary Reiter DMD 16, and Siavash Golaby Sanajany DMD 15.