I would like to share big news for the profession of dentistry — the recognition of a new specialty! The American Academic of Orofacial Pain sent an announcement last Friday with news that Orofacial Pain is now the 12th recognized specialty of the ADA’s National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards. This is an important step that will help support more evidence-based care to patients with such pains. I would like to recognize our faculty member Dr. Andrew Young who has provided leadership in the field of orofacial pain and also the staff and other colleagues he works with in our Orofacial Pain clinic.
As always, be well and safe as we move into these difficult weeks for our nation.
I will leave you with the following quote from Winston Churchill who reminds us that "difficulties mastered are opportunities won."
I hope this message finds you well. I had the opportunity to meet with our student leaders from the DDS, IDS, and Hygiene Classes of 2020 yesterday through Zoom. I am so proud of the incredible leaders we have here at the Dugoni School. We discussed many issues of importance for our graduating students.
We regularly look to highlight various health-related promotional initiatives and I would like to continue to do that to raise awareness. As we begin a new month, I would like to remind you that April is “Oral Cancer Awareness Month.” As oral healthcare providers, we are on the front lines of helping to identify oral cancer. The good news is that it can often be found early through a quick and painless head and neck screening. With early detection, survival rates are high and the side effects from treatment are at their lowest. The Oral Cancer Foundation has a variety of educational resources online to help the public better understand oral cancer.
Please feel free to explore these links and resources and I look forward to being able to provide important and life-saving screenings for our patients again soon. While our schedules may be adjusted these days, we have a world of information at our fingertips to help us learn and grow in our profession.
I know that some of you may have been hoping for an April Fool’s joke today but I decided that instead of a prank, it would be good to suggest the opposite. Find at least one person today for whom you will do a good deed while maintaining your safe social distance. If you have friends or family that may be living alone and do not have connections with many others, contact them and see how they are doing. Our physical and mental health can be strained during such times of stress and isolation… human kindness will light our way through.
During this period of pandemic and financial upheaval, we have created a fund that will support the clinical education of Dugoni School of Dentistry students by working to provide treatment opportunities for patients in need.
While we are currently only offering limited emergency services for patients of record, we want to build this new fund up now. We know there will be growing financial strain in our local communities in the coming weeks and months. We want to encourage patients to return to our clinics when we can fully re-open, and offer discounted procedures to those in need, allowing our students to acquire the clinical experience to be great practitioners.
Your generosity will support our students in their educational endeavors, while helping financially stressed patients, and further strengthen the Dugoni School’s mission of helping people lead healthy lives. We are proud to provide leadership and care in times of crisis and we could not do it without you.
Please help us spread the word to your friends and communities:
Please follow Dugoni School on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and share our posts and the link to encourage people to visit the site and give.
Make your own announcement on your social media letting your friends know about the Student/Patient Emergency Fund, what it means to you, and how they can join in support. Tag @Dugonischool. Alternatively, you may text your video or photo/comment to Craig Yarborough at 415.819.9643.
Make a gift! Ask your friends and professional associates to make a gift too. Make an investment in care.
Together, let us make an extraordinary impact on our students and patients. Thank you.
Greetings on the first day of the Spring Quarter for the
Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry.
To our students and
residents: We know this is a time of disruption, but we are working hard to
deliver our programs online and provide a high-quality educational experience
even during this unusual time. Take advantage of the resources we have to
support you. We are here for you and are committed to your success.
To our faculty and
staff: Thank you for your creativity and coordination as we work to deliver
our academic courses in new ways and support our students, residents and others
in the Dugoni School family
To our patients:
While we are only able to provide emergency services for patients of record at
this time, we look forward to caring for you when we are able to re-open all of
our clinical services
To our alumni,
friends and supporters: Thank you for your messages of encouragement that
many of you have sent us! We realize your personal and professional lives also
have been disrupted. If our Alumni Association or other departments can be a
resource for you, please get in touch.
The Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry has served the Bay
Area community since 1896. We have seen some tough times in our community over
the decades, but we have enjoyed many more positive times over the years. Will
get through this moment by working together and staying true to our values.
While we temporarily work and learn from home, we certainly are still together as the Dugoni School family — just in new ways!
I look forward to continuing to fulfill our purpose of
helping people lead healthy lives. And I look forward to seeing you all in person
when we are able to do so.
