Our Crowdfunding Groups
The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine is committed to improving oral health through teaching, research and service. Pitt Dental’s Community Outreach Fund enables students to practice their clinical skills outside the classroom while also providing dental care to at-risk populations in rural and urban areas.
With routine care and dental checkups, many oral diseases can be prevented. Unfortunately, not all people can take advantage of private dental care. Today, approximately 40 percent of the regional population lacks access to routine dental care, especially those from low-income rural and urban areas.
At Pitt Dental, we are taking steps to address the critical need for access to dental care. An important component of our community outreach, embedded in the Dental School curriculum, is the Student Community Outreach Program and Education (SCOPE). In SCOPE, during the 1st and 2nd year, dental students participate in at least one non-dental volunteer program at a community site. These programs include diabetes screenings, breast cancer awareness programs, HIV related service activities, and other pertinent health care services.
With enough clinical experience, students in their 4th year are offered the opportunity to rotate through a variety of community-based clinics. Pitt’s dental clinic network extends through Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, from Erie to Greene County, and encompasses both rural and urban settings. The goal of community-based clinical rotations is to improve our students’ understanding of the health care needs of under-served communities.
This project seeks funding for the Pitt Dental Community Outreach Fund to help offset the expenses that students incur while traveling to and from these important clinical sites. Gifts of any size will help to secure the impact Pitt Dental has on more than 15 clinical sites and enable important experiential opportunities for our students. Please consider a gift today to support Pitt Dental’s transformative impact on oral health in our community.
A gift of $50 will help to enable our student’s community experience.
A gift at this level will ensure a portion of a student’s travel expenses is covered.
Giving $250 will allow our students to travel to a clinical site in Allegheny County.
With $500 in support, you will guarantee that our students are able to traverse the region while providing important services.
A gift of $1,000 will make possible the travel of our students to the entire greater community in need – from Eastern Ohio to Central Pennsylvania.
