Laura Lee
In the state-of-the-art dental clinic at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Md., fourth-year dental student Daniel Mazza paused between patients. He had already completed four extractions that morning, part of a Mission of Mercy event that would serve 82 patients in a single day.
“I really like how the speed of things is going, how we’re able to see all the patients,” said Mazza, who treated three patients before noon that day. “I’m really enjoying this experience.”
The Mission of Mercy program provides critical dental care to uninsured and underserved adults who might otherwise go without treatment. Through a partnership between the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD) and Catholic Charities of Washington, D.C., the Shady Grove clinic offered free extractions and fillings to adults ages 18 and older who lack access to regular dental care.
The second floor of the Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Building hummed with activity as 35 fourth-year students worked across 20 dental chairs, supported by faculty supervisors and Spanish language translators, demonstrating the program’s commitment to accessible care.
Halima Karim, DDS, director of clinical services at Shady Grove and a 2012 graduate of the dental school, is a critical factor in the event’s success. “There are pockets of communities around here that need these services,” Karim said. “By doing an event like this, we’re able to spread the word about the care we have here.”
One grateful patient was Lekan Sofolaham, who traveled from Frederick for treatment of a front tooth he had cracked on a chicken bone. “They did some magic,” Sofolaham said as he revealed his restored smile to his wife.
The volunteer clinic is a natural fit for Ramsay Koury, DDS, clinical assistant professor and Mission of Mercy coordinator, whose interest in dentistry was sparked by a college mission trip. Koury has been coordinating Mission of Mercy clinics at UMSOD for 10 years and encourages students and faculty to volunteer. “This is the most fun I’m going to have all day,” he said. “It makes you fall in love with dentistry again.”
Since it began in 2022, the Shady Grove Mission of Mercy has steadily grown from serving 50 patients at the first event to over 80 patients this fall. The program, which runs every April and October, marks a successful partnership between UMSOD and Catholic Charities in addressing community dental health needs.
But the clinic’s mission extends beyond a single day of treatment. As patients finish their care, staff discuss ongoing dental care options, including reduced-fee services at the Shady Grove facility. “None of these patients really has a dental home,” Koury said. “We’re trying to get them a place where they can get continuing care. We’re talking to them about whether they qualify for Healthy Smiles or other plans.”
Sofolaham and his wife were looking for a dental home and intend to return to Shady Grove. “Oh, yes, I’ll be back,” Lekan Sofolaham said with a smile. “I got good care today, and with a reduced rate, of course, I’ll be back.”
