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This version of NSU News has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of NSU News, visit news.nova.edu.
This version of SharkBytes has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of SharkBytes, visit sharkbytes.nova.edu.
Dental Students Sell DVDs to Raise Money for Special-Needs Children
Geoffrey Morris and Ian Lieberman were busy making money over the holidays.
The 2nd-year NSU College of Dental Medicine students did not do this for themselves, but for the Craniofacial Unit at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood. They produced and sold DVDs that review anatomical components of the brain, spinal cord and other structures of the central nervous system to other NSU Health Professions Division students as a $20 study guide. With the help of the college’s Oral Maxiofacial Surgery Club, the two were able to raise over $6,000 for the clinic that will be used for dental implants.
Staffed by NSU dental students and faculty, the clinic specializes in helping children with congenital and acquired disorders of the face and jaw. Some of these children were born with cleft palates and cleft lips, while others developed them because of trauma such as auto accidents. The students’ hard-earned money will help patients receive the treatment they so desperately need. “As health profession students, it’s our desire to help our community,” Morris said. “What better way to use this money then to help disadvantaged children receive dental services. Our little project made the holidays even more special for us.”
Morris said all students enrolled in a medical program at NSU’s Health Professions Division must to take neuroanatomy classes as a mandatory requirement for their programs. “Since Ian and I have already taken these courses, we had an insight on how to make an effective study guide for other students,” Morris said. “We started the fundraiser and before we knew it, we started making a lot of money.”
“Community support makes a significant difference in our ability to respond to the needs of patients and their families,” said Kevin Janser, a senior vice president and chief development officer for the Memorial Healthcare System, which includes Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. “This gift from the NSU dental students is not only thoughtful, but it will directly impact people’s lives in meaningful ways. We sincerely appreciate Mr. Morris and Lieberman’s interest and generosity.”