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Since the inaugural Alabama Schweitzer Fellows class kicked off in 2016, UAB School of Dentistry students have actively contributed to improving oral health and overall health in vulnerable populations through their leadership and innovative projects. Over the years, 16 students have participated in the prestigious program, dedicating their time and skills to community public health projects across the state.

One of the earliest fellows, Aissatou Barry-Blocker, D.M.D. (‘19), taught personal nutrition to improve oral health and potentially reduce heart disease and diabetes in Hispanic and Latino communities. “Nutrition plays a crucial role in oral health, and I wanted to make a difference in these communities,” she shared. Barry-Blocker was a member of the inaugural ASF class of 2016-17.

Hamilton Behlen, D.M.D. (’20), led cooking demonstrations and nutrition lessons for children at the Norwood Junior Master Gardener camp. Due to the program's popularity, smaller, family-oriented classes continued through the fall and winter. “It never ceased to amaze me how eager families were to learn at my cooking and nutrition classes each week,” Behlen shared.

Jenai Bostic, D.M.D. (’23), and Carolyn Grace Griffin, D.M.D. (’23), focused on oral care for special needs patients at UAB Sparks Dental Clinic. They created a storyboard video to help patients and caregivers feel more comfortable about dental visits. “Our goal was to make dental visits less intimidating for patients with special needs,” Griffin noted.

Raymond Dawkins used health fairs and one on one educational sessions to teach parents and children about the benefits of oral health.Raymond Dawkins, D.M.D., M.B.A. (’20), educated parents and children on oral health benefits through health fairs, one-on-one sessions, and oral hygiene instruction. He raised awareness about Medicaid dental benefits and taught parents age-appropriate dental care methods. “This fellowship has served as an opportunity to interact with a group of peers that share a common ethos, but with differing perspectives and capabilities,” Dawkins said.

Bhakti Desai, D.M.D. (’20), enhanced oral healthcare for patients at Cahaba Valley Health Care clinic by providing education during Sunday clinics and helping patients set personal goals. The project expanded to Equal Access Birmingham, where she continued to offer oral health education and worked on implementing screening care. “Seeing patients achieve their oral health goals was incredibly rewarding,” Desai remarked.

Dara Johnson, D.M.D. (’24), and Zoie McIntosh, D.M.D. (’24), developed a nutrition and oral hygiene education curriculum for the UAB Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center (MHERC) Healthy Happy Kids Elementary After School Program, reaching nearly 2,300 students. Johnson and McIntosh created a referral system for students needing a dental home with The Sidney B. Finn Pediatric Dentistry Clinic at UAB. This initiative paved the way for third- and fourth-year dental students to conduct community oral health screenings in partnership with the MHERC’s Live HealthSmart Alabama Mobile Wellness Clinic.

“Seeing a need for oral health equity and having the desire to mitigate health disparities, I started to see a lane where I could be impactful,” Johnson said. McIntosh added, “I fell in love with the ability to create a safe space, make positive experiences, and change the trajectory of care for children and patients with special needs.” For McIntosh, the journey has come full circle. She joined UAB’s Pediatric Dentistry residency program in July 2024, where she is advancing her education in the very same Finn Clinic she served as an ASF Fellow.

Henry Kendrick, D.M.D. (’24), collaborated with fellow UAB student Matthew Hudson and various partners including UAB Disability Support Services, UAB e-Learning, the Red Barn, and United Ability to develop an online disability education and training module. This module aims to equip future health professionals with comprehensive knowledge and a personal connection to treating patients with a range of disabilities. “By working with occupational therapy students, we aimed to enhance communication skills and provider confidence,” Kendrick explained.

Jade and Suyeon present their poster during the Celebration of Service. Photo credit: ASF AlabamaJade and Suyeon present their poster during the Celebration of Service. Photo credit: ASF AlabamaAs 2023-24 fellows, Jade Kim and Suyeon Kim, now third year dental students, created a dental pipeline program to spark interest in dental careers among middle school students. Their pop-up clinic presentations exposed students to oral health and dentistry, emphasizing the urgent need for dental care in Alabama. By the end of the ASF program, 214 students had received oral hygiene instruction and an introduction to dental careers. “This was a valuable lesson that will optimize my future interactions with patients,” Jade shared. “We definitely learned a lot about how to navigate the dental school system and we’ve made a lot of connections,” Suyeon added.

Ana Ospina, D.M.D. (’22), developed a Dental Spanish curriculum, integrating it into the UAB School of Dentistry program. She delivered lectures and created cheat sheets to help students apply the material in the clinic. “It is my duty as a healthcare professional to care for all my patients, especially those who are underserved,” Ospina said.

Bhumika Patel, D.M.D. (’21), aimed to enhance the nutrition of UAB graduate students using the campus food pantry, Blazer Kitchen. She conducted cooking demonstrations, offered workshops, and provided virtual grocery store tours. “Healthy eating is crucial for overall good health,” Patel said.

The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship offers practical experience and fosters a lifelong commitment to service. Designing and leading innovative projects that serve a wide array of communities, UAB School of Dentistry fellows have built on the ASF foundation, establishing a tradition of impact. Current fellows, such as third year dental students Katelynn Clark and Vashti Convers, as well as Ethan Madison, D.D.S., a resident in the Department of Periodontology, continue this legacy by addressing health literacy, infrastructure for active transportation, and other community health needs.

Katelynn Clark and Vashti Convers in one of their informational videos.Katelynn Clark and Vashti Convers in one of their informational videos.Clark and Convers are addressing language barriers and health literacy within the Hispanic community by creating educational videos in English and Spanish. These videos, which are available on YouTube (@UABDentistry) and Facebook (@UAB.Dentistry) and are promoted throughout the community, cover essential dental health topics. Their goal is to educate and build trust between dental health professionals and the Latino community.

Madison has partnered with Faris Zaibaq, a UAB Heersink School of Medicine student, to help those who live, work, and visit Birmingham by creating safer infrastructure for active transportation in the city. They are working with the Birmingham Department of Transportation and community partners to build support for infrastructure that will change how people interact with and navigate the city, promoting more active and safe movement.

Raquel Mazer, D.M.D., M.S., M.P.H., an associate professor and the school’s director of community collaborations, highlights the fellowship's role in helping students address unmet health needs while honing their leadership skills. “The program is a fantastic way for our students to demonstrate leadership, while using their knowledge and skills in real-life situations where they can create lasting change,” she shares.

After completing and presenting their fellowship project, participants become Schweitzer Fellows for Life, joining an active network of alumni committed to improving public health in underserved communities throughout their careers.

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Full project highlights and updates can be found on the ASF Alabama website.