Ann Arbor, MI — January 27, 2012 — The University of Michigan School of Dentistry celebrated the birthday of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. giving back to the community and honoring a dental student, faculty member, and alumnus for their work.

Twenty underserved, low-income residents of Washtenaw County received donated dental care at the Community Dental Center at 406 N. Ashley Street in Ann Arbor on Saturday, January 14. 

Under the supervision of the Center’s director, Dr. Bonita Neighbors, CDC staff and 27 dental students volunteered to help the patients with services that included cleanings, restorative treatments (fillings), oral health instruction, and extractions, when necessary.  The program was a joint effort of the American Association of Public Health Dental Students and the CDC.   During the one-day program, more than $8,000 in dental care services were provided to these individuals who otherwise would not have received the care they needed.

Two days later, January 16, the School’s Multicultural Affairs Committee (MAC) hosted its annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration that included the presentation of the Ida Gray Award to a dental student, faculty member, and a dental school alumnus.  Dr. Gray was the first black woman in the nation to earn a dental degree, from the U-M School of Dentistry in 1890.  The award named for her recognizes those who promote diversity throughout the School.

Ricardo Lugo, a fourth-year dental student received the student Ida Gray Award for his commitment to diversity.  Lugo has been president of the Hispanic Student Dental Association at the School of Dentistry for the past two years and has been active in MAC.  He was providing oral health care on an outreach initiative in Jamaica when the award was presented.  Accepting it on his behalf was Ash Rohra, a first-year dental student.

Dr. Henry Temple, clinical assistant professor of dentistry, received a faculty Ida Gray Award for his work with the Community Dental Center that began in 1975.  MAC recognized Temple for his commitment to the underserved early in his career that has continued throughout his professional life.  In his role as director of the School’s 3-Green Clinic, the committee noted that he “ensures all patients receive culturally sensitive and truly patient-centered care.”

Dr. James Lee (DDS 1990), the alumnus recipient of the Ida Gray Award, was providing free oral health care to needy individuals in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti that day, as he has annually for the past 12 years.  Dr. Kenneth May, associate professor of dentistry and director of the School’s Office of Multicultural Affairs and Recruitment Initiatives, accepted the award for Lee.

While Martin Luther King, Jr. Day provides a forum to publicly acknowledge the School’s commitment to equity, diversity, and multicultural values, the School of Dentistry strives to foster these principles every day and in all aspects of teaching, research, and patient care.