Ann Arbor, MI — October 5, 2011 — The University of Michigan School of Dentistry’s highly successful community outreach program was recently featured on Detroit Public Television, WTVS, on Saturday, October 1, at 11:30 a.m.  The program is also expected to air on the Big Ten Network.  However, a date and time for broadcast have not yet been scheduled.

Among those interviewed from the School of Dentistry for the feature, which is expected to run about seven minutes, was Dr. Robert Bagramian, whose work with the Summer Migrant Dental Clinic Program in the early 1970s established the framework that led to the expansion of the community outreach program in 2000.  That year, fourth-year dental students began rotations at clinics in communities across Michigan during the academic year.  Prior to that time, outreach was a “summer only” experience.

Also interviewed was Dr. Bill Piskorowski, director of outreach and community affairs, who talked about the expansion of the program to 10 weeks, and first-year dental student Rachel Krell who said the School’s outreach program was a major factor in her decision to study dentistry at U-M.

Interviews were conducted at the School of Dentistry in early August and in May in Traverse City when the Summer Migrant Dental Clinic Program expanded to a year-round program which now involves U-M dental students working with private practitioners, local health agencies, and community colleges to provide oral health care to the underserved and underinsured.