Last weekend, several School of Dentistry faculty, students and staff traveled to Wise, VA to participate with other volunteers in the Virginia Dental Association Foundation’s 25th annual Mission of Mercy project. As oral health care professionals, great teamwork resulted in provision of care for over 600 people in just two days. 

It was a celebration of great work and generosity serving a most deserving and needy community. But, it was also a reminder that in and around Wise, many, many people do not have access to dental care and health care in general. 

The discordance of great service and great need couldn’t have been more pronounced and was punctuated by the reality that for those seeking care at the Wise MOM clinic, this was ‘it’ for dental care. There is nowhere else to turn. 

Everyone who volunteers at Wise understands this message and gains greater empathy for the community in need. Returning to Richmond, I’m reminded that access to oral health care is a challenge in many communities in Virginia and we are here to learn about this challenge and create generations of health care providers willing and able to meet the challenges of oral health disparities in our community.  

Thank you to Michelle McGregor and our student coordinators for leading our efforts at these MOM projects. These events would not be possible without you. 

Thank you, Dr. Terry Dickinson for the gift you have given our community through an idea that has grown over 25 years, cared for thousands and has taught us all how to care a little bit more.

And thank you all for your compassionate enthusiasm for this project and your commitment to addressing oral health disparities in our communities.