Grant Awarded for School’s Military Veterans Dental Care Program2 min read

Ann Arbor, MI — November 13, 2013 — An outreach program launched by a group of dental students from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry to provide oral health care to disabled and homeless Michigan military veterans has received a grant to provide additional care.

The $10,000 grant from the Delta Dental Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Delta Dental Plan of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and North Carolina, will enable dental students in the School’s Wolverine Patriot Project to provide oral health care to several dozen more veterans.  The dental students provide oral health care care at the dental offices of two School of Dentistry alumni and veterans, Drs. Edward and Janis Chmura Duski, in Gaylord, Michigan.  

“With the help of an extraordinary group of University of Michigan dental students and administrators, we have been able to provide much needed dental care to our local disadvantaged veterans,” said Dr. Janis Duski.  Her husband, Dr. Edward Duski, added, “Being veterans ourselves, it feels so right that this has all come together for us to be able to help our fellow servicemen.” 

The Duskis said the Delta Dental Foundation grant also enhances the services that can be provided.  Donations from dental suppliers, a dental laboratory, and help from other dental professionals, including their staff, all contribute to the success of the program.

Since students in the Wolverine Patriot Project began providing oral health care in October 2012, more than 30 disabled and homeless veterans have received comprehensive dental care.  WPP was spearheaded by third-year dental student and veteran Jesse Edwards and is administered by Dr. Bill Piskorowski, assistant dean for Community-Based Dental Education.  Dr. Howard Hamerink, adjunct clinical associate professor of dentistry, is a WPP faculty mentor.