School of Dental Medicine

TUSDM Cares for Veterans

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM) and its TUSDM Cares for Veterans program is honored to announce it has received a $18,000 grant from the Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF) to help improve oral care for veterans in need.
A female dentist and a male veteran patient sitting on the chair, both smiling

The grant from the DVNF will enable TUSDM students, with support from faculty, to continue to fulfill the mission of providing oral health education, oral health and cancer screenings and dental referrals for veterans who reside at the New England Center and Home for Veterans and the Brighton Marine.

The program was founded by students Brent Mullen, D20, and Keith Nguyen, D20, as Service With a Smile. Both had served in the Army and had begun serving meals at a local center for homeless veterans when they identified a larger need relating to oral care. They founded Service With a Smile to focus on providing oral health education, screenings, and related services to veterans in need, particularly those without homes. 

Since its founding, the program at TUSDM has grown from a volunteer opportunity to a required part of the dental curriculum as part of students’ community service-learning rotation.  This program gives dental students an opportunity to learn about their role in working community based setting while building positive relationships with the TUSDM community and veterans in Greater Boston.

“TUDSM Cares for Veterans aims to increase access to oral health care for veterans in need.  Through this generous grant from DVNF, our students will screen over 120 additional patients in need during the coming year.” said Kathy Dolan, assistant professor in public health and community service. 

Joseph VanFonda (USMC Sgt.Maj. Ret.), CEO of the Disabled Veterans National Foundation said, “We are proud to support Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and its TUSDM Cares for Veterans program as they continue to make a positive impact in veterans’ lives. We would like to congratulate and thank them for their commitment to assisting the men and women who served in defense of our country.”

DVNF provides critically needed support to disabled and at-risk veterans by offering direct financial support, providing online resources, and serving as a leader on veteran’s policy issues. Learn more about DVNF.