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NEW JERSEY DENTAL SCHOOL MEETS NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY IN THE PARK

Dear All,

I wanted to take this opportunity to review the UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School's latest community service event that took place on June 29, 2002 at Branch Brook Park. The Dental School was asked by our local Freeholder to provide oral health education in conjunction with the New Jersey Symphony in the Park series. The school was provided a table, a tent and a volunteer worker to set up our booth.

The event's primary sponsors were Fleet Bank, Pfizer Pharmaceutical and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. There were 4000 citizens present (mainly from Newark and Belleville) - mostly adults and senior citizens (bussed in) but probably 500 children as well.

The NJDS volunteers (listed below) arrived between 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to set up our booth and interact with other vendors and early arriving citizens. By 7:00 p.m. the booth was in full action. We provided oral health education to hundreds of children and dispensed 1000 tooth brushes and school brochures. We closed our booth at 9:00 p.m.

Many of the citizens present were quite happy to see out booth and commented on the wonderful service that we were providing. The volunteers also had the opportunity to interact with several of our current patients, most of whom were quite happy with the wonderful treatment they have been receiving at the school. I also had the opportunity to meet two students who plan to attend NJDS in the future as part of a combined 7 year program with their undergraduate institution.

Town and county officials also stopped by the booth and said thank you. They noted that NJDS was the only UMDNJ unit at this event. They also commented that NJDS was the only state/local government service organization present.

Overall everyone had a great time interacting with the citizens, dispensing oral health education, toothbrushes and brochures, listening to the NJ Symphony Orchestra and watching the fireworks.

The volunteers present were:

Regina Jackson - Dean's Office
June Cadogan - Dean's Office
Veronica Salmon-Owens - Office of Administration and Finance
Maria Flores-Meza - Office of Administration and Finance
Laura Imperiose - Office of Administration and Finance
Sylvia Sherrod - Faculty Practice
Martin Giniger - Department of Community Health
Edith Giniger - "Marty's Mom"
Deb Goldsmith - Department of Community Health
Barbara Guenther - Student Class of 2003 (Group D)
Glen Roberson - Class of 2004 (Group D)

Over all, it was time well spent and every one had a lot of fun. Our two Dental Students attending were absolutely fabulous with the children and working the "brushing" puppets...and I am quite confident that our presence was much appreciated and useful.

Respectfully submitted,

Martin Giniger, DMD, PhD

Event Pictures*
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