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This version of NSU News has been archived as of February 28, 2019.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This version of SharkBytes has been archived as of February 28, 2019.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.
NSU and Kids in Distress Open Dental and Optometry Clinics
NSU and Kids In Distress (KID) of Broward and Palm Beach counties have opened the Kid Dental Clinic and NSU Eye Care Institute at KID. The clinics are located on the Kids In Distress campus in Wilton Manors.
A grand opening ceremony was held for both clinics in March. Featured in the photo with Kids In Distress board members and executives are David S. Loshin, O.D., PH.D., FAAO, dean of NSU’s College of Optometry (2nd right); and Robert Uchin, D.D.S., dean of NSU’s College of Dental Medicine (far right)
The 10,000 square-foot clinics offer comprehensive dental and eye care services to more than 5,000 underserved children and families in South Florida annually. The 12 chair dental facility is equipped with 10 child-friendly exam stations and two private rooms for check-ups and diagnostics, preventive and restorative care, and digital radiography. The state-of-the-art technology even supports paperless chair-side recording, ensuring accurate care and follow-up information. The eye care clinic offers eight fully equipped optometry exam rooms, optical laboratory and an optical dispensary where kids can choose from a variety of fun, customized frames.
Kid Dental Clinic and The Eye Care Institute at KID are staffed with NSU’s third and fourth year dental and optometry students and residents and supervised by faculty members. They provide preventative and comprehensive dental and eye care to children six months to 18 years old and their families. The facilities accept various insurance options including Medicaid, Florida Healthy Kids, MCNA Healthy Kids and ADI Molina Plan while offering affordable fees for those without insurance.
“This is a great leap forward in terms of providing critical health care services to children who don’t normally get access to a dentist or optometrist,” said Stephen Abel, D.D.S., M.S.D., NSU’s College of Dental Medicine’s assistant dean of extramural programs who helped established the dental clinic.
“Often children do not know that they have a visual problem, which may be the very issue that affects their school performance,” said David S. Loshin, O.D., Ph.D., dean of the NSU College of Optometry. “By providing valuable services to these children, we are offering a solution in empowering them to develop their full academic potential.”