Closing the Gap: A Celebration of the Achievements of the Rhode Island Oral Health Access Project

The celebration was held on February 13, 2006 to showcase the progress that has been made in improving access to dental care for thousands of Rhode Island children and adults through the Rhode Island Oral Health Access Project.  The event recognized individuals and organizations who have improved access to oral health services and highlighted what still needs to be done to fully accomplish the shared mission of access to high quality dental care for all children and adults in Rhode Island.

Elizabeth Burke Bryant, Executive Director of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, welcomes attendees.

Ron Gallo, CEO of The Rhode Island Foundation, describes the Rhode Island Foundation’s contributions toward and on-going commitment improved access to dental care.

Jane Hayward, Managing Director of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, reflects on the success of the Rhode Island Oral Health Access Project’s public-private partnership.

Ronald Lebel, Director of the Department of Human Services, talks about the new RIte Smiles dental benefit program.

Elizabeth Burke Bryant presents an Oral Health Access Leadership award to Dr. Edwin Mehlman, who was recognized for his commitment to increasing access to dental care in Rhode Island.

Senator Elizabeth Roberts accepts an Oral Health Access Leadership award that recognized her leadership of the Special Senate Commission on Oral Health and her dedication to improved access to oral health services.

Karen Voci, Senior Vice President for Program at The Rhode Island Foundation, presents East Bay Community Action Program’s Oral Health Access Achievement Award for its East Bay Smiles Program to Debra Patterson and Suzanne Moniz.

Jill Beckwith, Policy Analyst at Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, presents CareLink Inc.’s Oral Health Access Achievement Award for its work to increase access to dental care for nursing home residents to Joan Kwiatkowski and Bob Caffrey.

Jill Beckwith presents Providence Community Health Center’s Oral Health Access Achievement Award for its new dental center to Marie Ghazal and Merrill Thomas.

Tricia Leddy, Administrator of the Center for Child and Family Health at the Department of Human Services, presents St. Joseph Health Service’s Oral Health Access Achievement Award for its Pediatric Dental Residency program to Christine Vallee, H. John Keimig, and Dr. Daniel Kane.

Owen Heleen, Director of Special Funds at The Rhode Island Foundation, presents the Rhode Island Health Center Association’s Oral Health Access Achievement Award for its Dental Safety Net Provider Coalition to Kerrie Jones Clark.

Tricia Leddy presents Joseph Samuel’s Dental Center’s Oral Health Access Achievement Award for its General Practice Dental Residency program to Dr. Shirley Spater, Mary Jane Boutin, and Dr. Christine Ramalho.

Owen Heleen presents the Comprehensive Community Action Program’s Oral Health Access Achievement Award for its participation in the Molar Express mobile dental van to Joanne McGunagle.

Jill Beckwith presents Crossroads Rhode Island’s Oral Health Access Achievement Award for increasing access to dental care for children and adults who are homeless to Dr. Joan Welch and Jennifer Schanck-Bolwell.

Owen Heleen presents the Thundermist Health Center’s Oral Health Access Achievement Award for its West Warwick dental center to Maria Montanaro and Stephanie McCaffrey.

Karen Voci presents St. Joseph Health Service’s Oral Health Access Achievement Award for its Pawtucket Smiles program to Dr. Joseph Samartano and H. John Keimig.

Jill Beckwith presents Dr. Clark Sammartino with an Oral Health Access Achievement Award for the the Rhode Island Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped's Donated Dental Services program.

The Northwest Health Center’s Oral Health Access Achievement Award for its school linked dental program is presented to to Peter Bancroft (Center) and Deirdre Norton(Right) by Karen Voci (left) .

Owen Heleen presents to the Oral Health Access Achievement Award to Michael Fantom  for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern New England's participation in the Molar Express mobile dental van.

Karen Voci presents Thundermist Health Center’s Oral Health Access Achievement Award for its school and community linked dental program to Lauren Nocera and Stephanie McCaffrey.

Owen Heleen presents Thundermist Health Center’s Oral Health Access Achievement Award for its participation in the Molar Express mobile dental van to Maria Montanaro.

Owen Heleen presents the East Bay Community Action Program’s Oral Health Access Achievement Award for its participation in the Molar Express mobile dental van to Debra Patterson.

Jill Beckwith presents Federal Hill House’s Oral Health Access Achievement Award for educating families about oral health care to Norma Gonzalez.