Summer 2006 Newsletter

 

New Dental Clinic Opens

After two years in planning, we opened our new community dental clinic Monday, July 17^th.   The 3-chair clinic is located at our service site in Planeview.  We offer cleanings, x-rays and primary care dentistry such as fillings, and extractions. 

 

Charlotte Turner-Williams, DDS; Lourdes Vazquez, MS, RDH, Clinic Manager; and Priya Jayaraman, BSD, MPH, dental assistant, prep for patients.

Our hours are 8 am – 5 pm , Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.  We accept Medicaid, HealthWave and private insurance.  Translators will be on site during all clinic visits.  Scheduling of appointments can be done at 651-0062.

Many people helped make this clinic a reality including the Knight Foundation, the United Methodist Health Ministries Fund, the Wiedemann Foundation, Hospitals of Hope, Wichita Community Foundation’s Donor Directed Fund, GraceMed Clinic, Sullivan & Schien, Patterson Dental, Proctor & Gamble,   

Hu-Freidy, Via Christi Health Systems, Dr. Mathews, Dr. Mark Schneider, Dr. Charlotte Turner-Williams, Great Image Design, Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc. at WSU, and Patty Seery.  Special thanks goes to HOP Board members Mike McMillan, Curt Terflinger (and wife, Marge), Bill Wise, and Reggie Monson for invaluable amounts of donated labor, as well as to the members of the dental advisory committee (Barb Gonzalez, Denise Maus, and Pam Bumpers) for their assistance.  

 

Dental patient Federico Ruiz with Sandra Chacon and Site Manager, Maria Miranda.

School Physicals

WSU’s Department of Physician Assistant will be providing school and sports physicals at HOP on the following Thursdays mornings:  July 27, August 3, and August 10.  Appointments can be made at 651-5357.  School forms should be brought with the student to the clinic visits.

Rob Le Promoted to Business Manager

HOPs Board of Directors voted unanimously in their July meeting to appoint Rob Le, HOPs bookkeeper for the last two years, as our full-time Business Manager.  Rob’s expanded responsibilities will include oversight of the business aspects of clinical operations.

AmeriCorps Openings

HOP has been awarded three new AmeriCorps positions for the coming year as part of the statewide Kansas Community Health Corps. Two part-time members (20 hr/wk) will help enroll families in Medicaid and HealthWave, as well as to work on promotion for the organization.  A full-time member (approximately 35 hr/wk) will be dedicated to support of our clinical services (dental and PA).  In addition to a modest living stipend, these positions come with educational awards of nearly $5,000 (pro-rated for part time) so are particularly attractive for current or future students.  We seek to fill the positions before September 1^st with individuals having an interest in careers in health services and/or community development.  Applicants should be bilingual in English and either Spanish or Vietnamese. If interested, contact Maria Miranda at 651-5357.

Parenting Programs

A meeting of the Moms & Mentors Advisory Council, held on May 19^th, generated many new ideas for the fall curriculum. These classes are taught by a variety of faculty from WSU, sister universities, partner community organizations, and HOP staff.  Due to several new programs starting at the site, we are consolidating some classes. The free Moms & Mentors sessions will meet during the coming year on Monday evenings and Friday mornings.  Registration for the 14-week fall term will take place during the week of August 21^st, with classes starting on August 28. Child care is available at $1 per class for the first child plus $.50 for each additional child.

Rainbows United, with funding through the Knight Foundation, will be brining a new interactive parenting program called “Incredible Years” to HOP on Wednesday mornings. This program, limited to 20 families, is nearly filled.

Volunteers Needed to Paint on August 19

With continued generous subsidy from our landlord, Rob Snyder, we will assume possession the first week in August of the apartment to the west end of our current space on Sunnybrook.  This much needed additional space includes a full kitchen and bath as well of two other large rooms.  The unit will house our child care activities which take place during parenting and other service offerings. 

The unit needs cleaning and painting to get it ready for its young occupants.  We’re holding a paint and pizza work day on Saturday, August 19.  Please bring paint brushes, paint trays, trash bags and enthusiasm and help us turn this into a really fun place for kids to spend time while their parents learn.  If you can volunteer, let us know at 651-5357 – or just show up ready to help.

Nursing Connections

WSU mental health nursing faculty (Phyllis Jacobs and Cathy Weitzl) and students will initiate two new women’s support groups at HOP this fall.  The educational and discussion sessions will meet on Thursdays from 9:30 to 11 am and noon to 1:30 pm. 

HOP Alumni

Satpreet Singh, BSD, MPH, will be working with several dentists in San Diego prior to enrolling for a masters degree in dentistry at the University of Rochester.

Terry and Zeina Huynh have moved into their new home close by the hospitals where he spends much of his time in completion of his medical studies at KUMC-W. 

Parvez Baig, BSD, MPH, is now in the advanced
standing program at Boston University School of Dental Medicine.

Jay Saikumar, BSM, MPH, is completing his PhD in molecular and cell biology at the Medical University of Ohio - Toledo.

Anita Trainer, DC, MPH, has taken a position as Field Coordinator with Building Better Communities in New Orleans.  BBC is working on the rebuilding effort in the impoverished areas of the city that were hard hit by Hurricane Katrina

HOP NEEDS – please help if you are able:

·         TV/VCR or DVD for clinic reception area

Reminder:  Board of Directors meeting, Room 425 Ahlberg Hall. August 10 at 7:00 pm.