On Sunday, September 17, 2017, 23 members of the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine community volunteered at the second annual New England Muslim Festival. This event was led by the GSDM Muslim Student Association (MSA). The festival was held at the Cambridge Health Alliance in Malden, Massachusetts. In total, the group provided oral health screenings to 62 attendees.
Over 5,000 people attended the event, and festival-goers enjoyed traditional musical performances, dances, poetry and entertainment throughout the day. Vendors lined the perimeter of the space selling clothing, food, artwork and various items. A henna tent was one of the more popular stations where beautiful designs were painted on visitors’ hands and arms. A voter registration table was set up as well as several tables with physicians and medical assistants who discussed health and dental screenings.
The GSDM group offered a wide range of oral health promotion, education, age-appropriate activities, screenings and referrals to the families that attended this event. “This is an excellent way to share your expertise with children, adults, and the elderly, while serving as a role model to your community,” said Ms. Kathy Lituri, Oral Health Promotion Director in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research.
More photos from the Muslim Festival can be found on Facebook.
The volunteers from GSDM were: Yasmin Alayyoubi PEDO 19; Jacob Al-Hashemi ENDO 19; Dr. Linda Benslimane, Clinical Instructor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research; Saitah Bufersen ENDO 18; Dr. Sami Chogle, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Endodontics and Director of the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Endodontics; Osman Choudhry DMD 19; Safina Dhanji DMD 19; Mona Hatami ENDO 18; Dina Husein ENDO 19; Taimoor Iqbal ENDO 19; Usman Iqbal (preceptor)’ Husam Karzoun DMD AS 18; Shahmir Akbar Khan (preceptor); Dr. Afsheen Lakhani, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of General Denstitry; Ms. Kathy Lituri; Ali Malik DMD 21; Mohammed Mourad DMD AS 19; Fenal Shah (preceptor); Chandini Shaikh DMD 19; Hashem Shehadeh DMD 18; Rabie Youssef DMD AS 19; Moaz Zanbarakji, Research Dental Assistant; Maan Zuaitar ENDO 19.