Henry Schein, Inc. joined the Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity’s (AO) Columbus, Ohio, chapter in recognising 13 oral health professionals for their participation in a programme that provides free dental care to Holocaust survivors in need.
The Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Programme was launched in November 2014 in response to the White House’s call to action to help Holocaust survivors age with dignity and respect. To date, the programme has provided free oral care to more than 200 economically vulnerable Holocaust survivors across North America, including more than a dozen in Columbus.
The participating dentists were honoured at a recent reception hosted by Jewish Family Services in Columbus. US Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) congratulated the honourees, AO, and Henry Schein Cares in a Certificate of Commendation presented at the reception.
“The Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Programme’s impact would not be possible without the dedicated dental professionals who so generously give their time and talent to serving the oral health needs of Holocaust survivors,” said Mr. Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein. “Henry Schein stands proudly with the Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity to honour and thank the Columbus chapter for its commitment to this deserving group of people.”
The initiative provides care to people identified by the network of Jewish Family and Children’s Service agencies or other identified partner organisations, as well as people of any faith who were victims of Nazi persecution and meet the programme’s other eligibility requirements. In addition to financial need, patient participation is prioritised by three critical factors: the elimination of pain, restoration of function, and lack of dental coverage. Participating clinicians determine each patient’s scope of care.
This programme fills a critical need for many of the 120,000 Holocaust survivors living in the US, one quarter of whom live in poverty. Survivors often have special oral health needs, as many suffered from prolonged nutritional deprivation and had little to no dental care access as children during World War II. The programme currently operates in 15 geographies, including Columbus, Chicago, New York City, the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area, Boston, Philadelphia, Detroit, Seattle, Montreal, Toronto, Atlanta, Calgary, Los Angeles, Winnipeg and Dallas.
“Participating in the Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Programme has been an incredible experience for our members and we have learned so much from the Holocaust survivors we have treated,” said Dr. Shaun Rotenberg, Ambassador of AO’s Columbus chapter. “It is our honour to help them in whatever manner we can, and we look forward to continuing to participate in this wonderful programme.”
Dentists honoured at the event were: Kevin Albert, Anny Almasanu, Brad Blair, Aaron Carroll, Katie Carroll, Marc Hollander, Fredric Kaufman, Brad Kripke, Mark Levy, Shaun Rotenberg, Rob Steiner, Jeff Tilson and Eric Zidel.
“Alpha Omega’s Columbus chapter has shown that kindness and charity can have an incredible impact on the health and happiness of people in need,” said programme Co-Chair and AO Past International President Avi Wurman, DDS. “These oral health practitioners have helped Holocaust survivors eat without pain and smile proudly, and we thank them for upholding the ideals to which Alpha Omega’s members aspire.”
The Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Programme has received generous financial support from The Claire Friedlander Family Foundation and the Curt C. & Else Silberman Foundation. Additional support has been provided by the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, Inc., Bedford Health Care Solutions, The Dr. Edward B. Shils Entrepreneurial Fund, Inc., the Wagner Family Foundation, and the Slomo and Cindy Silvian Foundation, Inc.
