![\"\"](\"https:\/\/magazines.uthscsa.edu\/schools\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2017\/11\/Clinic_Group_Post-300x300.jpg\")
Dr. Partida, who helped Dr. Infante secure the clinic location and initial funding, said the program is now overseen by an executive board consisting of faculty mentors Adriana Green, D.D.S., M.P.H., associate professor\/clinical of comprehensive dentistry, and Jo Ann Diaz Jordan, M.A., RDH, director of the Dental Hygiene Program, as well as nine student members, including dental hygiene and dental students. The faculty mentors and student leaders recruit fellow faculty members and students who usually volunteer once or twice a year. A waiting list of student volunteers is proof of the program\u2019s success.<\/p>\n
Natasha Mathews, a fourth-year dental student and board chair, said the dental clinic now primarily offers regular cleanings, deep cleanings, extractions and fillings. The volunteer team works three days a month with one morning devoted to screenings, which include X-rays and diagnosis. One night is dedicated to cleanings by the dental hygiene students, while an urgent care night concentrates on extractions and fillings by dental students.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn one session, we try to see two to four patients. Last academic year, we were able to see 76 patients from July 2016 through May 2017,\u201d said Mathews, who is in her third year of volunteering for the faculty-student program.
\nThis is a wonderful way to give back to the community, she said. \u201cIt is a great avenue to perform a community service. And, it cultivates leadership and clinical skills.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mathews said the students have used what they learn in the classroom to continue to improve the program. \u201cInitially this was a walk-in clinic. Some days several people would show up while other days no one came. We found it much more efficient to create a screening day. Then we would schedule the patients. Now we can control what\u00a0we are doing in the clinic. It is more efficient.\u201d<\/p>\n
Funding for the dental clinic continues to come from SAMMinistries and the School of Dentistry, which donates supplies and equipment, such as the panoramic X-ray machine. Student leaders continue to apply for and be awarded Community Service Learning Midi Grants from the university\u2019s Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics. These grants allow them to buy dental supplies.<\/p>\n
Jordan, who mentors the onsite dental hygiene student volunteers, said she is thrilled the students are continuing and expanding the dental clinic that Dr. Infante created.<\/p>\n
\u201cTalley was this unusual dental hygienist who had such big visions. She put so much hard work into starting the clinic,\u201d said Jordan, who was taught by Dr. Infante, an associate professor of periodontics. \u201cWe couldn\u2019t let it stop. We had to keep it going in her honor.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dental and dental hygiene students and faculty provide free dental care at the Infante Dental Clinic at the SAMMinistries’ Transitional Living and Learning Center. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":419,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"magazine":[23],"issue-year":[20],"featured-story":[37],"class_list":["post-382","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","magazine-salute","issue-year-20","featured-story-landing-page"],"yoast_head":"\n