Students and faculty from the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry recently spent a day providing oral health screenings and services to people in need during a community outreach event on Sept. 11 at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco.

Student officer leadership from the school’s Student Community Outreach for Public Education (SCOPE) organization engaged peer participation in the 82nd Community Day of Service organized by Project Homeless Connect. Faculty member, Desmond Ng, DDS, continues the school's participation led by Michelle Brady, DDS and outreach founder, Professor Christine Miller.

The event served low-income and unhoused people, those at risk of losing their housing, including anyone having difficulty accessing a variety of health and human services. Volunteers from the dental school provided oral health screenings and oral hygiene instruction, and cleanings, fillings or same-day extractions offered at a San Francisco Department of Public Health dental clinic. Other strategic community partners offered Medi-Cal, Cal-Fresh and DMV/ID registration assistance, hearing screenings, women’s health, vision resources, access to housing services and rehabilitation resources, veteran services, legal help and many other services.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed welcomed and recognized the diverse volunteers who took time to provide critical services at the event. Some of the current PHC public volunteers were once clients striving to gain self-sufficiency via PHC.

“It was truly a collaborative effort and served as a powerful reminder of the difference we can make in our community,” said Isabella Razmi, DDS Class of 2026, and SCOPE co-president who was a primary catalyst for the Dugoni School’s involvement at PHC.

Volunteers from the dental school have been providing oral health care services through Project Homeless Connect since 2007. In 2014, California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, who was Mayor of San Francisco during the launch of PHC, recognized the Dugoni School's legacy of providing essential services during the presentation of the PHC Connector Awards, one of which recognized the Dugoni School. To date, thousands of homeless San Franciscans have received dental screenings, teeth cleanings, restorations or much-needed oral surgery as result of this effort.

Launched in San Francisco in October 2004, Project Homeless Connect has inspired similar volunteer and outreach event has been emulated in many cities across the United States as well as in Puerto Rico, Canada and Australia. Community volunteers partner with city government, non-profits and the private sector to provide “one-stop shopping” in health and human services for those who need it.

The school recently announced it will be the dental provider for the San Mateo County Navigation Center in Redwood City, a facility designed to help individuals who are experiencing homelessness transition into permanent housing. People will have the opportunity to receive medical, dental and other services, and to have access to specialists who work with clients towards self-sufficiency.