Students and Professionals at The University of Maryland, School of Dentistry Host the UMB CURE Scholars for Oral Health Promotion Day
INFO: Dental hygiene students and dental professionals from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD) will help sixth graders from three West Baltimore schools prevent cavities by applying sealants to their teeth free of charge. The middle school students are part of the University of Maryland Baltimore’s (UMB) CURE Scholars Program, which aims to create a pipeline to careers in health care, science and research for students at partner West Baltimore schools (Green Street Academy, Southwest Baltimore Charter School, and Franklin Square Elementary/Middle School).
After applying the sealants, the CURE Scholars will participate in Planet Smilez, a hands-on oral health education program created by UMB alumna, Kathryn Pawlak, DDS, ’19. As part of Planet Smilez, UMSOD students will mentor the sixth graders in the simulation lab, where the youngsters will use real instruments to learn how to "scale" teeth using plaster molds. Meanwhile, parents and younger siblings will be nearby, getting tips from other student volunteers on how to properly brush kids' teeth with the help of puppets and other student volunteers.
WHEN: Saturday, February 15, 2020
9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
*Full Program Schedule Attached*
WHERE: University of Maryland School of Dentistry
650 West Baltimore St., Baltimore, Md. 21201
About the UMB CURE Scholars Program
The UMB CURE Scholars Program is a groundbreaking year-round pipeline program that prepares sixth- to 12th-grade students in West Baltimore for competitive and rewarding research, STEM, and health care career opportunities. As the first middle school program funded by the NCI Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE), the UMB CURE Scholars Program identifies sixth graders with an interest in science from three West Baltimore middle schools and supports these scholars throughout middle school, high school, and beyond. Supported through funding from a Science Education Partnership Award and an NCI grant the UMB CURE Scholars Program is designed to support under-represented minority students by exposing them to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers, exciting experiments, and inspiring mentors.
UMB's program is supported in part by the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center. Currently students in sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth grades engage in science and other academic activities three times a week. The program addresses two major issues – race- and income-based cancer disparities as well as diversity in the cancer health work force.
About the University of Maryland, Baltimore
Founded in 1807, the University of Maryland, Baltimore is Maryland’s only public health, law, and human services university, dedicated to excellence in education, research, clinical care, and public service. UMB enrolls 6,700 students in six nationally ranked professional schools — medicine, law, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, and social work — and an interdisciplinary Graduate School. The university provides more than $40 million each year in uncompensated care to Maryland citizens, and receives more than $667 million in extramural research funding annually. For more information about the University of Maryland, Baltimore visit www.umaryland.edu.
