NOTE: This is part of a letter from Blake Bybee to the Academy’s Executive Director regarding activities held by the Student Chapter at USC – there are 53 members in their chapter; it’s dated December 22, 2011.

First of all, we have loved the monthly updates in the Academy Headlines. I’ve had several Academy members talk to me about them. Now to address your request with activities…

Our Academy leadership has set the goal of having three activities every semester. This fall semester was unique in that we ended up having five. We’re trying to get set up on a yearly schedule, which will make planning and funding requests easier. Our funding is primarily from our Dental School Student Body Association, and then our University Graduate & Professional Student Senate. Now that we are a more established and a popular club at our school, we’ve been able to get more funding more frequently. We’ve also made it a priority to send pictures and thank you cards every time we receive our funding.

We have a few yearly activities, and then we fill in the gaps based on Academy needs and student requests. One yearly activity, that we feel is a must, is a club presentation to the new incoming freshmen students. We try to have this meeting early on during the fall semester. We have found that it is easier to get new students involved in the Academy earlier than later due to all of the other clubs and activities. Our next scheduled yearly activity is our beach cleanup. This has been one of our favorites in which families are all invited. The rest of our activities are planned for during our leadership-planning meeting, which we hold at the beginning of each new semester. These include what we call “Lunch and Learns” (this was highlighted in the December Academy Headlines). We provide lunch and either watch one of Gordon J’s or have a guest faculty members speak.

We kicked off this fall semester with a BBQ pool party for Academy members and families, which was hosted by Dr Garret, our Faculty Representative. We invited families and the food was all done by RSVP potluck style. Then we had our opening meeting to the school targeting the new freshmen students. We provided lunch and talked about our goals, showed pictures, and gave a plug for the Clinician’s Report. Our next activity was one that was showcased in the Academy Headlines (newsletter). Very simple, we watched one of Gordon J’s movies and ate tacos.

The next activity was our Beach Clean-up, which I mentioned earlier. Then we had a meeting with a banker from East West Bank who provided details on common mistakes made by recent dental graduates, and also what to expect considering acquisitions, opening new practices, and buy-ins. This was the first of our 3-part installment, which will be followed by a meeting with a dental accountant, and then a lawyer who has represented the dental profession. The other activities that we are looking into for the remainder of the school year include more “Lunch and Learn” sessions as well as a golf tournament. If you have any specific questions on activities or ideas, don’t hesitate to ask….

Now to address your other request. We think that oral hygiene seminars are a great idea; in fact it was something we tried to do last year with little success. Our major hurdle was funding. The school would not give us any funding for this activity due to “liability issues.” Perhaps it was the request that was in connection with the Crest Oral B student fundraising program either way, it didn’t seem the like the school was very excited about it. We still feel we can do basic presentations to scouts or YM/YW groups, just without hygiene kits.

I hope this email has been somewhat helpful and not just long. Do not hesitate to contact me with questions or comments.

Arriving at the gates, I check my watch: 7am, right on time.  Dozens of children and their parents already line the sidewalks leading into the school’s gymnasium, each hoping to be part of the first group admitted for much needed dental care.  There will be even more patients for today’s free dental clinic than last year, but we have come prepared.  In the early Saturday morning light, Dr. Harris Done unloads the dental equipment from his trailer, the volunteer group assembles the clinic stations, and within thirty minutes, the mobile dental clinic volunteers of AYUDA, Inc. will be ready to do what they do best.  Service.

Today’s clinic is not unusual.  Every year, the University of Southern California (USC) AYUDA volunteers hold at least eleven mobile dental clinics throughout southern California, and one or two international clinics in underserved areas of Central America.  Under the direction of Dr. Done, and with the generosity of individual and corporate sponsors, volunteers annually provide nearly $700,000 of free dental care to over three thousand children and adults.

Dental students clad in University of Southern California scrubs, local dentists and specialists, dental hygenists, and volunteers all graciously give of their time and talents to provide free dental services to underserved populations in southern California and beyond.  AYUDA means “help” in Spanish, and I find myself wondering if today’s dental clinic is what was envisioned by President Spencer W. Kimball when he founded AYUDA over forty years ago.

Outside the AJUDA Clinic

Years of discussions by physicians and educators working together to improve the lives of underserved populations in Latin America led to the formal founding of AYUDA, Inc. in 1967.  AYUDA’s first project was in Guatemala, where it created the country’s first rural junior high school, built a hospital and dental clinic, revolutionized their agricultural system, and provided universal immunization to over 30,000 children living in Guatemala.

Today, dentists from all over the country join forces with USC dental students and volunteers to carry out AYUDA’s monthly local and international mobile dental clinics.  We are unified in a common cause; we serve our fellow man with the talents we have been blessed with, helping those who cannot help themselves.  We see as many patients, and save as many teeth as possible.  And we have fun doing it!

A quick survey of the room reveals that everything is ready.  Dr. Done reviews the day’s agenda with four volunteer attending dentists, as the eighty USC dental students in attendance eagerly await instructions.  No tangible incentive or compensation is given to these volunteers, but they faithfully and consistently show up, ready to lend a hand to kids in need.

The elementary and middle school aged patients enter the gymnasium with medical history in hand.  First stop: the Screening Station.  A comprehensive examination including digital radiographs is completed, the patients are diagnosed and treatment planned.  The Anesthesia Station is the next stop for the majority of the patients, where they are anesthetized and a rubber dam placed.  Patients are seated, and receive interceptive restorative and palliative care in one of the ten operatories of the Treatment Area, equipped with handpieces, instruments, supplies, suction, and lights.

With electricity, a high-powered compressor, a roll of duct tape, and a little luck, the operatories don’t get a break until the clinic ends in the late afternoon.  Patients then receive oral hygiene instructions, and a “goody bag” before being discharged into the care of their parents.

AJUDA Clinic

And then as quickly as the dental clinic was set up this morning, it comes back down.  Volunteers wipe the sweat from their brows, and explain why they came today, sharing success stories of what they were able to do and see.  “I learned so much,” “I was able to save two teeth for a boy who has never been to the dentist before,” “I came today to give back, but I think I ended up getting more out of it than I gave,” “I extracted a tooth for a girl who had to miss school because of the pain from infection,” “I had so much fun!”

Dental service through the AYUDA program offers a rewarding experience to each and every participant.  As a dental student the chance to reach beyond myself was invaluable, serving my brothers and sisters in my own community gave me a foundation of service that will influence my perspective for years to come.  The attending dentists are pleased in knowing that their direction and support have enabled great acts of service.  We are all grateful for the blessing of interacting with spiritual and professional giants while serving in the ranks of AYUDA volunteers.  And the countless children we have been fortunate to meet have each taught us that we can all serve one another with love.

Volunteers and generous sponsors make the services of AYUDA possible.  As a private non-profit humanitarian dental, medical and educational organization, AYUDA’s mission is to be actively engaged in improving and sustaining the oral health of people in underserved areas of the world.  Formally founded in 1967, AYUDA helps promote health education and social betterment by providing assistance through treatment, training and education.  Today, teams of dentists and volunteers travel at their own expense to treat and educate a multitude of deserving people in Belize, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Russia, Ukraine, Cambodia, and Kenya.  To date, AYUDA clinics have treated over 210,000 patients.  These projects which influence hundreds of thousands throughout the world are all supported by generous individuals and organizations, which make the services of AYUDA possible. To donate, please visit www.ayuda-inc.com or email harrisdone@aol.com.

Contact CR Dentistry Cruise Department, Cruise & Travel Masters 800-267-0041 or crdentistry@cruiseandtravelmasters.com.  Then to register for the Dentistry Update or Office Manager Courses, call the CR Foundation at 888-334-3200; mention you are a member of the LDS Academy and receive 15% discount on your tuition.