Lasting Impressions | Summer 2016

NSU COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE x 45 About 200 people from NSU and the South Florida community participated in the Fourth Annual AO Oral Cancer Awareness 5K Run and Walk-a-thon, sponsored by the Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity, NSU Chapter. The chapter raised more than $8,000 during the run to benefit South Florida resident Cassandra Charles and the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at NSU’s College of Dental Medicine. The funds raised include a significant donation made by second- year dental student Anum Anomaly Ali’s parents, Feroz and Samina Ali. Charles was diagnosed with an ameloblastoma— a large, expansile lesion—in her lower right jaw. The procedure included removal of most of her lower jaw and teeth. While the tumor has been removed and work has begun to reconstruct the lower jaw, she still needs bone grafting, multiple implant placements, and restoration for functional artificial teeth. The CDM’s Oral Surgery Department sees many patients who experienced trauma, facial fractures, or disease requiring models of their cranium, jaws, or facial bones to be created in order to bend custom plates used in repairing their particular injury. Many cannot afford the cost of the high-end models for plate fabrication. The CDM’s Alpha Omega chapter has a history of raising money for the college and for members of the community. Last year, the Alpha Omega members purchased a 3-D printer for the CDM’s Oral Surgery Department, using funds raised from the oral cancer run and walk-a-thon. The 3-D printer is used as an alternative to print models and bend plates for patients who cannot afford the higher-cost models. “Alpha Omega is community oriented. Our mem- bers know that being involved with the community is a major factor of being a dentist,” said third-year stu- dent Alan Seidenfeld, who is president of the CDM’s Alpha Omega chapter. An Alpha Omega member, who was diagnosed with cancer while attending the CDM, organized the first 5K run and walk-a-thon. The event raises funds for oral cancer patients who cannot afford to pay for treatment, or whose insurance does not cover the treatment, and to purchase equipment needed by the dental students to benefit their patients. The chapter donates 100 percent of the funds raised during the events to its projects. In addition, CDM students and faculty members provided oral cancer screenings during the event. ◆ ALPHA OMEGA SPONSORS COMMUNITY RUN CDM Impressions