Good works, and fine experience
For people without adequate health care, a simple trip to the dentist can be life altering. Lisa Simon found that out last summer while visiting underserved populations in western Massachusetts as part of a new University-wide program that supports public service. A student at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Simon shadowed workers in the dental department of the Holyoke Health Center, which provides dental services to people in need, including low-income residents, retired veterans, and prisoners in the county jail. “Seeing the dramatic difference you can make in someone’s life when you are really addressing simple needs — needs that I think people who have access to dental care don’t appreciate — was really, really striking,” Simon said. Simon, who is interested in the integration of dental and primary care and the use of health information technology in rural areas, also developed some recommendations on how to better address public health needs...
