Bringing smiles to underserved children and adults

Photo: Eileen Barroso / Columbia University

Transportation solutions leader WeDriveU is helping Columbia University bring smiles to underserved children and adults in Manhattan and the Bronx by teaming up on its state-of-the-art Mobile Dental Center. WeDriveU designs and manages mobility systems for campuses and workplaces across the U.S., including shuttle strategy, operations, drivers, analytics, and fleet.

Ribbon Cutting

Officials and community leaders joined leaders from Columbia University at its Manhattanville campus in West Harlem to celebrate the debut of the new Mobile Dental Center on Nov. 12, 2021. Attendees at the ribbon-cutting included former U.S. Representative Charles Rangel and leaders from Columbia University and Delta Dental California.

Giving Back to New York City Communities

Part of the College of Dental Medicine’s Community DentCare program, the Mobile Dental Center offers comprehensive diagnostic, preventative, and restorative oral health care to thousands of children annually in New York City neighborhoods spanning Harlem, Washington Heights, Inwood, and the South Bronx. DentCare has logged more than 150,000 patient care visits over 25 years.

“With the mobile clinic, we’re able to conduct exams and facilitate referrals and treatment for the people who need it most and who probably would have difficulty getting to our brick-and-mortar clinics. It’s a tremendous tool to allow us to promote oral health and to treat our most vulnerable patients in those areas,” says George Jenkins, DMD, MHA, assistant professor of dental medicine and associate dean for access, equity, and inclusion at CDM.

Support for Columbia’s new Mobile Dental Center includes a 2018 grant from the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation. The mobile clinic program was launched in 2009 through a donation from Alex Rodriguez.

From left: Blenda Emptage-Smith, program director, Jackie Robinson Senior Center; Marie Garcon, assistant professor of nursing; Dennis Mitchell, EVP for university life; Christian Stohler, dean of Columbia University College of Dental Medicine; Mike Hankinson, EVP and chief legal officer, Delta Dental California; Biana Roykh, senior associate dean for clinical affairs, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine; George Jenkins, associate dean for access, equity, and inclusion, College of Dental Medicine; and Anil Rustgi, interim EVP and dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Photo: Eileen Barroso / Columbia University.

In addition to delivering care to the community, the Mobile Dental Center offers service learning opportunities for Columbia dental students, who provide oral health services under the supervision of faculty and staff.

Photo: Eileen Barroso / Columbia University.

Founded in 1916, Columbia’s College of Dental Medicine is a leader in applying clinical, research, and public policy approaches to oral health issues. Its Center for Precision Dental Medicine is at the forefront of providing personalized dental services, with state-of-the-art dental chairs for patient care and instruction, simulation training equipment, and technology to advance data sciences. The college is also the largest provider of primary and specialty oral health care in the Northern Manhattan communities of Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood. Visit dental.columbia.edu.

Learn more

Learn about WeDriveU shuttles for universities, hospitals, and corporations at www.wedriveu.com.

Learn about Columbia University and its Mobile Dental Center:
https://www.columbia.edu/
https://neighbors.columbia.edu/news/take-look-inside-columbias-new-mobile-clinic-community-dental-care
https://dental.columbia.edu/dentcare

Portions of this post referencing the ribbon-cutting, including the event image, were published by CDM and are included here with permission. CDM photos by Eileen Barroso / Columbia University. 

Other images by WeDriveU