33
Volume3 Issue3
|
I
ssues and
P
eople
Over theyears, Dr.Wrighthashelpedmake
his London-areacommunityabetterplace
inmanyways. Since2008, he’s focusedhis
effortsondeveloping theSchulichDentistry
program, DentalOutreachCommunitySer-
vice (DOCS). “Whenpeople thinkof outreach,
theyoften thinkof travelling toAfricaor
SouthAmerica, or similarplaces,” saysDr.
Wright. “But inour owncommunities there
arepeople—immigrants, refugeesor those
who live ineconomic situations that arevery
difficult—whocannot afforddentistry.Many
are trying toget established inCanadaand
finda job, but they feel embarrassedby their
dental problems.”
Dr.Wrighthasmaintainedanactive involve-
mentwith theDOCSprogramas it evolved
froma fullyvolunteer-runprogram intoa
mandatorypartof thecurriculum for fourth-
yeardental students. Theprogramoperates
as acollaborativenetwork involving social
services agencies, theSchulichdental school,
theFanshaweCollegedental hygienepro-
gramandvolunteerdentists from theLon-
donandDistrictDental Society. Dr.Wright
describeshow theprogramworks: “We set
upportabledental clinics in social services
agenciesandprovidecompleteexaminations
for thepatients in their owncommunities;we
take radiographs anddetermineexactlywhat
is required in theirdental needs. Thework is
thencompletedat thedental school,where
studentsprovide treatment—cleanings,
fillings, extractions and root canals.”
According toDr. LesKalman,whodirects
theDOCSprogramat SchulichDentistry,
DOCShelpedabout 200patients
receivecare last year.
Thebenefitsof theDOCSoutreachpro-
gramextendbeyondhelpingacommunity
inneed. “Theprogramhas awonderful
advantageof enabling students toexpe-
rienceanoutreach situationandwehope
thishelps themdevelopa social conscience
that theycarry forwardaftergraduation,”
saysDr.Wright. “Studentsdealwithpatients
whomayhavenever seenadentist,who
are intimidated,whowouldusuallynot seek
treatment in theirpractice; it’s important
that theyunderstandwhere theirpatients
arecoming from. It’s verygratifying to see
graduatedentists volunteering tocomeback
to superviseandparticipate in theprogram
in theensuingyears.”
“Kenhasbecomea friendandcolleague
andhis sincerecareandpassionexemplifies
theattributes thatdental students should
embrace,” saysDr. Kalman.
Dr.Wright’senthusiasm for improving the
DOCSprogram isundiminished. He’d like
toexpand its service to thecommunityby
developinga fund thatwouldhelppatients
whoneedmoreexpensive treatments and
by settinguponeor twopermanent clinics
in theLondonarea. “There’s still a lotmore
todo,” he says. “But it’sexciting, it’s reward-
ing, and it’sgreat for the students and the
community.”
a
PhotoCredit:MCpl VincentCarbonneau, RideauHall
©HerMajestyTheQueen inRight of Canada representedby theOfficeof
theSecretary to theGovernorGeneral (OSGG), 2015.
Reproducedwithpermissionof the OSGG, 2016.
InNovember2015,
Dr.KennethWright,
semi-retiredperiodontist
andadjunct clinical
professor in thedivision
of periodonticsat
theSchulichSchool
ofMedicineand
Dentistry, received the
GovernorGeneral’s
CaringCanadian
Award forhiswork
as the founder
anddirectorof the
DOCSprogram.
TheGovernorGeneral'sCaring
CanadianAward recognizes thosewho
“havemade a significant, sustained,
unpaid contribution to their community,
inCanada or abroad."
(L. to r.)HisExcellency theRightHonourableDavid Johnston,
GovernorGeneral ofCanada; KennethWrightof London,
Ontario; ElizabethDowdeswell, LieutenantGovernorof
Ontario, at theCaringCanadianAwardceremony.
