USA SECTION FOUNDATION PROJECTS
It is difficult for us in our hi-tech world, to comprehend the obstacles our founding fathers had to overcome to create the International College of Dentists in 1928. It was their vision and determination to promote the education and communication needs of their developing profession that has set the standard for its continuing success worldwide. Through the generosity of Life and Active Fellows of the USA Section it has grown in assets.
The Foundation reflects the innovative spirit of the College and the Fellows that have endowed it. Our Foundation has remarkable flexibility because it can respond to a need as it becomes manifest, it can strike out quickly in a new direction, and it can give in a single community or throughout the world based on the action of its Trustees.
LIST OF PROJECTS:
DISTINGUISHED HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Humanitarian of the Year Award is a USA Section Award that may be given annually to a USA ICD Fellow who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment in supporting and promoting humanitarian efforts in the USA or abroad.
CHOGORIA HOSPITAL DENTAL CLINIC, KENYA, AFRICA
With seed money from the USA Section Foundation and other groups, the Chogoria Hospital Dental Clinic became operational in 2014 and is providing amazing services to the Chogoria area of Kenya. The Clinic is in the process of developing support staff and outreach projects.
DENTAL JOURNALISM SEMINAR
The American Association of Dental Editors and Journalists sponsor a two-day continuing education course biannually targeted primarily to new dental editors. The Foundation helps underwrite the cost of the event. It is held in Chicago in conjunction with the Midwinter meeting.
DENTAL STUDENT HUMANITARIAN AWARDS
Funded by a ten-year anonymous grant, this award is presented annually to a graduating senior in each U.S. dental school, who is an outstanding example of altruistic leadership in promoting and participating in humanitarian service. The student honored is chosen by the dental school’s Awards Committee and a plaque acknowledging the student’s achievement is provided by the USA ICD Foundation.
DISTINGUISHED DEPUTY REGENT AWARD
The Deputy Regents are the fabric that holds the USA Section together. Each year the Foundation selects one of these hard-working individuals for special recognition of outstanding service. A plaque is presented at a ceremony during the Deputy Regents luncheon by the Foundation President.
FELLOWSHIP ORIENTATION PROGRAM
A Fellowship Orientation Program is held on the evening before the Annual Convocation. Invitation to Fellowship in the ICD is the greatest honor in the life of a dental professional. The program familiarizes candidates, their family, and friends, with the history, structure, achievements, and goals of the ICD.
GLOBAL HEALTH STUDENT ASSOCIATIONS
The ICD Global Health Student Associations (GHSA) are organizations of dental students with a common interest in exploring the global world of dentistry through professional initiatives and cultural enrichment. Members learn about oral health, the need for patient care, and of opportunities to provide education and treatment. The Foundation supports the initiation of GHSAs at interested U.S. dental schools.
INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LIAISON VOLUNTEER SEMINAR PROJECT
The Foundation is proud to sponsor well-attended, three-hour long presentations on volunteerism at various national dental meetings. Approximately 800 potential volunteers attend each year. A team of experienced ICD volunteers are eager to assist seminar attendees in preparing for “taking the next step” as volunteer dentists abroad.
BETTIE R. MCKAIG STUDENT EXPERIENCE PROGRAM
The ICD USA Section Bettie R. McKaig Student Experience Program provides dental students of today the educational and cultural enrichment necessary for professional leadership in the global community tomorrow. 2016 was the first year under the new name, International Student Experience Program, which reflects our support of the learning opportunities of mission style trips as well as reciprocal exchanges. The popularity of these programs continues to grow, as does academia's appreciation for its benefit to contemporary student education. In 2017, we had 17 USA dental schools participating, representing approximately 35 international trips. Many dental school applicants are even evaluating the availability of international opportunities in their selection process.
JOURNALISM AWARDS
The ICD encourages quality dental journalism through its annual Dental Journalism Awards. Each year fifteen to twenty journals are recognized in various categories. The awards ceremony takes place at the annual meeting of the American Association of Dental Editors and Journalists.
KIKUYU HOSPITAL DENTAL CLINIC
The USA ICD Foundation is proud to have supported the development of the Kikuyu Dental Clinic in Kenya with financial aid over a period of years. The clinic now provides for the treatment of dental infections, provides for the restoration of teeth, and offers preventive services and dental health education. Care is provided both at the Kikuyu Clinic and at outreach locations.
OUTSTANDING LEADER IN DENTISTRY AWARD
This award recognizes an outstanding Dental Leader each year. The USA Section of the ICD has presented this prestigious award to many of the profession’s distinguished leaders including Arthur Dugoni, George Selfridge, Harold Slavkin, William Hunter, Gordon Christensen, Richard Shick, David Whiston, Martin Hobdell, Eric Hovland and Charles Norwood and others.
SENIOR DENTAL STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARDS
Leaders are visionaries. They enable their group to survive and excel in a changing environment. This award recognizes a senior dental student from each school who has shown outstanding leadership qualities during their four years as a dental student. The student is selected by the faculty.
TEMPLE DENTAL SCHOOL HUMANITARIAN OUTREACH
The Foundation approved a grant which helped underwrite a Kornberg School of Dentistry sponsored a dental mission to the La Sagrada Familia Orphanage in Peru. The program is grounded in public health principles. It promotes and focuses on oral health education, prevention and the sustainability of the program after the volunteers have gone.
VISITING SCHOLAR ROOM - SAMUEL D. HARRIS NATIONAL MUSEUM OF DENTISTRY
The National Museum of Dentistry has been a recipient of International College of Dentistry financial support. The Museum has been a transformational leader in oral health awareness by connecting the ideas of good oral health and a healthy life through its national programs and its website. In addition, taped interviews of distinguished dental leaders and professionals are available for viewing.