UTHSC - San Antonio


University of Texas Health Science Center
Hispanic Student Dental Association

2008-2009 Officers

President: Hayde Garza-McCabe
garzamccabe@uthsca.edu

Vice President: Parya Etebari

Treasurer: Taylor Goggins

Secretary: Ana Hernandez

Historian: Yana Kushner

Fundraiser Chair: Sam Escarega

Events Coordinator: Brigid Buck

New Member Recruiter: Elva Villa

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Vidal Balderas
balderas@uthscsa.edu

Faculty Advisor: Martha Baez
baezm@uthscsa.edu



HSDA 2007 Outreach

UTHSCSA HSDA 4-DAY SUMMER MISSION TRIP

UTHSCSA4-Day Mission Trip to Nueva Rosita, Mexico-Two HSDA students and the Greater San Antonio Hispanic Dental Association President-elect, Dr. Balderas attended CMDA's summer mission trip. In an effort to give back to the community these individuals donated their time and skills to people of scarce resources and very limited access to dental care. Under Dr. Balderas' supervision students were able to deliver restorative, oral surgery, and preventive dental treatment. Three different sites were visited and dental care was rendered at no cost to adults and children. One of the sites visited was a special needs elementary school, shown in the picture below. At this school, children with mental and physical disabilities including deafness, muteness, mental retardation, and Down syndrome received oral health care. Additionally, oral hygiene products and educational materials were distributed to everyone at every site including people who did not receive dental treatment. During this mission trip patients were educated about the importance of proper oral hygiene and the impact nutrition, diabetes, and hypertension have on oral health. Prevention of early childhood caries was also emphasized during these educational sessions. The chapter has already made plans to attend the mission trips planned for this fall. One of the upcoming mission trips includes a toy drive for the children in Mexico. The children will receive oral hygiene materials in addition to their early Christmas toys.