Penn Dental Medicine Serves Afghan Refugees with Pop-up Clinic
Responding to an immediate need for dental care in the community , Penn Dental Medicine students and faculty created a pop-up clinic for more than 60 Afghan refugees awaiting permanent placement in the Philadelphia metropolitan area . Many arrived in the U . S . in August and their resettlement is being managed by the Philadelphia-based Nationalities Service Center ( NSC ), which supports immigrant and refugee clients with health and wellness services , community integration , legal protections , opportunities to achieve English language proficiency , and more . NSC has been partnering with Penn Dental Medicine since 2019 when the School established its Vulnerable Populations Dental Care Center , referring patients requiring dental assistance to the Center .
“ NSC does tremendous work for the immigrant and refugee population , and we are honored to partner with them in serving their clients . So when we learned of this special need , we were eager to help . We pulled the pop-up clinic together in just four days ,” said Dr . Olivia Sheridan , who directs the School ’ s Vulnerable Populations Dental Care Center , and worked with Dr . Leonard Jensen , Dental Director of the School ’ s Community Dental Care Centers , and hygienist Karoline Genung , to recruit student volunteers and organize the clinic .
The clinic was set up on a Saturday within the residential hotel where the refugees are currently living . Sixteen third- and fourth-year DMD students , along with Drs . Sheridan and Jensen and Ms . Genung , provided care to more than 60 patients , with future appointments made for another 35 patients and 100 hygiene kits dispensed . The major concern of the majority of the families was dental pain and disease . Along with dental exams , fluoride varnish was applied in the oral cavity of everyone seen and over 50 units of silver diamine fluoride were placed and several atraumatic restorative treatment ( ART ) restorations completed . A number of emergent cases were referred to the School ’ s Vulnerable Populations Dental Care Center . In addition to dental care , extensive hygiene and nutritional advice was provided .
“ We did not stop until we ran out of supplies ,” Dr . Sheridan . “ Dean Mark Wolff and the entire school administration are deeply committed to supporting these efforts and our student and faculty volunteers continue to step up and provide this much-needed care for our newest arrivals .”
As a result of the tremendous need for comprehensive care that was noted during this day , the school has established a new clinical care day at the school specifically to serve Afghani refugees being referred by NSC . Directed by Dr . Sheridan , 40 third-year dental students now volunteer to provide comprehensive care one full day every week . Over 150 patient visits had been completed since March 31 .
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NSC does tremendous work for the immigrant and refugee population and we are honored to partner with them in serving their clients
– Dr . Olivia Sheridan
32 MAY / JUNE 2022 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL