Lasting Impressions | Fall 2016

fact, the brainstorming of new projects began last summer. “We are looking into implementing patient check-in kiosks for the clinic to help streamline the check-in process,” he said. “Additionally, we are planning to collaborate with other NSU colleges, like pharmacy, in doing a health fair to encourage interprofessionalism.” Verga and other students credit Niessen’s personal involvement in the SGA as a key reason why the group was able to accomplish so much. “ e dean joined us during my second year, and she was at every single meeting,” he said. “She would go out of her way to make sure things happened outside of school hours. She gave a lot of her free time to help us out. We de nitely give her a lot of the credit for winning this award.” Fourth-year student Kyle Aten said the STUEY Award is a re ection of the group’s collaboration as students. “We work as a team and collaborate all year with the di erent clubs,” said Aten, who serves as SGA treasurer. “I think that was a big reason we were selected as the winner.” Niessen said the leadership skills the students learn now will serve them well during their future careers. “We are training them not only to be excellent clinicians, but also to be leaders within the dental profession, and to be comfortable doing so,” she said. Verga agrees. “ e leadership experience you gain with the SGA will translate into your ability to lead in your community and practice,” he said. “For me personally, it was extremely rewarding to help make a di erence during my four years here.” Zohaib Munaf, SGA executive vice president and a third-year student, said that receiving the STUEY was a “phenomenal” experience. “It was a great accomplishment for the whole dental college,” he said proudly. “Our goal is to win it again in 2017.” e CDM’s Smiles Across Miami program received a Sapphire Award and a $20,000 grant from the Florida Blue Foundation for the college’s e orts to bring quality oral health services to underserved and primarily unin- sured school children in Miami-Dade County. Ana Karina Mascarenhas, B.D.S., Dr.P.H., M.P.H., associate dean of research at the CDM, accepted the award on the college’s behalf. e Florida Blue Foundation awards outstanding work by individuals, programs, and nonpro t organizations in community health care or health care-related elds that are distinguished by leadership, innovation, and achievements in community health. e honorees in each category were announced during the two-day Sapphire Symposium, which featured community health experts from around the state and country. “ e goal of Smiles Across Miami is to identify oral diseases early and improve access to vitally needed oral health care for Miami-Dade schoolchildren most at risk in order to reduce health disparities and improve health and social equity in our community,” said Mascarenhas, who oversees the program. Smiles Across Miami addresses the disparity in oral health through a two-pronged approach: early screening, prevention, and improved access to quality oral health care training medical sta and providers in 145 Miami-Dade schools to screen for oral diseases and provide oral health counseling; referring children needing further treatment to a dentist; and providing technical assistance and monitoring “By starting preventive care, treatment, and education at an early stage, we can provide the basis for children to maintain good oral health and overall healthy habits for their entire lifetime,” said Linda C. Niessen, D.M.D., M.P.H., M.P.P., who serves as CDM dean. Since 2005, the Florida Blue Foundation has presented 73 Sapphire Awards, totaling more than $3.75 million, to 15 individuals and 58 programs and organizations from across Florida. is year’s honorees were selected from among 112 nominees. An independent panel of experts with state and national expertise in community health best practices selected the honorees in each category. DENTAL PROGRAM RECEIVES STATEWIDE AWARD NSU COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE © 47