School of Dentistry volunteers at Special Olympics Texas across 2023

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry students volunteered to participate in Healthy Athletes at two Special Olympics Texas events in 2023.

School of Dentistry students participated in the Special Olympics Texas Winter Games on Feb. 18 in Bee Cave and the Special Olympics Texas Summer Games across May 19-20 in San Antonio. Volunteers included second- and third-year dental students, second-year dental hygiene students, and faculty.

Healthy Athletes is a Special Olympics program that provides free health screenings and education in a fun, welcoming environment that removes the anxiety and trepidation people with intellectual disabilities often experience when faced with a visit to a doctor or dentist.

The dental component of Healthy Athletes, known as Special Smiles, is one of several medical specialty areas offering free screenings and education.

Dental and dental hygiene students, dentists, and others volunteered to provide oral health screenings and health education to participating athletes. Specific services provided included head and neck exams, oral health exams, oral cancer screenings, and oral health education. Arrangements with local community resources specializing in care for patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities were arranged for athletes identified for needed follow-up dental treatment.

The dental outreach participation was coordinated by Associate Professor Esther O. Kuyinu, DDS, MS, faculty sponsor of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry Student Chapter as well as the Student National Dental Association at the School of Dentistry.

Volunteers in Bee Cave included dental students Christine Anusim, Garrett Conlan, Ethan Enneking, Heba Hoelscher, Amber Hua, Elizabeth Hunter, Whitney Huynh, Andre Larue, Omkar Patel, Andrew Roberts, Bridget Sneed, Joel Sneed, Angela Suryakusuma, and Kehui Wang. Dental hygiene student volunteers were Stefany Vasquez Castillo, Michelle Leon, and Valeria Zamarripa. Faculty participants were Clinical Professor Magda Eldiwany, DDS, MS; Kuyinu; and Potts.

Third-year dental students Jennifer Hoang and Judy McNeil volunteered in San Antonio. Faculty participants were Associate Professor Erin Potts, DDS, and Kuyinu. Predental and premedical students at Houston Christian University provided additional support.

Special Olympics Texas provides approximately 1,500 health screenings annually at the Winter Games, Summer Games, and Fall Classic statewide competitions. Event divisions are based on age, gender, and ability level to give athletes an equal chance to win. Each participant receives a medal or ribbon following their events.