Once every three months, the employees of Arnold Peace's dental practice spend a day off together. Led by Dr. Peace, the dental team volunteers at the Catholic Charities Free Health Care Center, where free dental care is provided to those in need.
Dr. Peace found out about Catholic Charities a year ago through one of his staff members.
"My dental assistant, Mary Ann [Derbis], had read about it in her church bulletin. She said she thought we should volunteer and I told her to look into it," Dr. Peace said. "I must admit that I am your typical dentist, who likes to stay in my own environment, but they had such a desperate need for volunteers, we decided to do it. It was that easy."
Their first visit was in April 2008, according to Dr. Peace.
In addition to Dr. Peace and Ms. Derbis, Carrie Certo Kotewicz, the front office coordinator, and two dental hygienists, Jamie Graswick and Erin Odorisio, also volunteer.
"We take off Wednesdays anyway, so that was the perfect time for us to go together," he said. "We wanted to do it as a group."
The session lasts from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The group provides basic dental care for the center patients.
"Carrie helps with the coordination of the patients that we see -- then the rest of us work with the patients. I see about five or six patients each time we go in, and the girls see about the same," he said.
"I've done plenty of fillings, some restorative work. The hygienists do cleanings. We see a whole gamut of people," he said.
According to Clare Kushma, director of marketing and public relations with Catholic Charities, there is an overwhelming need for volunteer dentists at the Health Care Center, located at 212 Ninth Street in Pittsburgh.
In addition to six full-time staff, the clinic has 20 dentists who volunteer hours, including Dr. Peace. Opened in November 2007, the center provides free medical and dental care.
"It is a lot of fun for us," said Dr. Peace, "and we know we are doing good work. We usually go out to lunch afterwards; we sort of make a day of it."
Dr. Peace also belongs to the Etna-Shaler Rotary and has done some volunteer work through Rotary, although not dental care.
"I still have children at home, so I can't do work out of the country or something like that. This works out perfectly," he said.
For Dr. Peace and his staff, the volunteer work couldn't be easier. "They have wonderful equipment. We just walk in and start seeing patients," he said. "They even have their own free parking lot that volunteers can use."
It is work that Dr. Peace finds rewarding.
"When we work with the patients, my heart goes out to them. Some of them have just hit hard times and are trying to get their lives back together. It is great to help in some small way.
"When I go down there and see the huge dental need, I know we are needed. I really hope that other dentists can read this and see how easy it is to volunteer. They need more volunteers and it is a great place to help."
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09141/971573-54.stm#ixzz0I1ANnaQ9&C
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