Approximately a quarter of the 120,000 survivors of the Holocaust who live in the United States are impoverished. They also often have special oral health needs after suffering from prolonged nutritional deprivation with little to no dental care access during World War II.
However, help is available. Launched in November 2014, the Alpha Omega (AO)-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program has provided free oral care to more than 200 people across North America, including more than a dozen in Columbus, Ohio.
Commemorating these efforts, Henry Schein Inc. joined the Columbus chapter of the AO International Dental Fraternity in recognizing 13 local oral health professionals for participating in the program at a reception hosted by Jewish Family Services.
“The AO-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program’s impact would not be possible without the dedicated dental professionals who so generously give their time and talent to serving the oral health needs of Holocaust survivors,” said Stanley M. Bergman, chairman of the board and CEO of Henry Schein.
The initiative provides care to those identified by the network of Jewish Family and Children’s Service agencies and other identified partner organizations, as well as people of any faith who were victims of Nazi persecution and meet the program’s other eligibility requirements.
In addition to financial need, patient participation is prioritized by 3 critical factors: the elimination of pain, restoration of function, and lack of dental coverage. Participating clinicians determine each patient’s scope of coverage.
“Participating in the AO-Henry Schien Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program has been an incredible experience for our members, and we have learned so much from the Holocaust survivors we have treated,” said Dr. Shaun Rotenberg, ambassador of the AO Columbus chapter.
The honored dentists included Kevin Albert, DMD; Anny Almasanu, DDS; Brad Blair, DDS; Aaron Carroll, DDS; Katie Carroll, DMD; Marc Hollander, DDS; Fredric Kaufman, DDS; Brad Kripke, DDS; Mark Levy, DDS; Shaun Rotenberg, DMD; Rob Steiner, DMD; Jeff Tilson, DDS; and Eric Zidel, DDS.
The program currently operates in 15 areas, including Columbus, Chicago, the New York and New Jersey metropolitan area, Boston, Philadelphia, Detroit, Seattle, Montreal, Toronto, Atlanta, Calgary, Los Angeles, Winnipeg, and Dallas.
Also, the program has received generous support from the Claire Friedlander Family Foundation and the Curt C. & Else Silberman Foundation. The Henry Schein Cares Foundation, Bedford Health Care Solutions, the Edward B. Shils Entrepreneurial Fund, the Wagner Family Foundation, and the Slomo and Cindy Silvian Foundation have provided additional support.
“AO’s Columbus chapter has shown that kindness and charity can have an incredible impact on the health and happiness of people in need,” said program co-chair and past president of AO International Avi Wurman, DDS.
“These oral health practitioners have helped Holocaust survivors eat without pain and smile proudly, and we thank them for upholding the ideals to which AO’s members aspire,” Wurman said.
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