Wellness, Prevention, and Access to Care
Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program
There are approximately 80,000 Holocaust survivors living in the United States today, and nearly one-third live at or below the poverty level. Access to care and support services grows more critical as this population ages and becomes susceptible to compounding health issues. Survivors often have special oral health considerations. Many experienced prolonged nutritional deprivation and received little or no dental care throughout their childhoods, compromising their lifelong oral health. In 2015, Henry Schein Cares and Alpha Omega International Dental Society responded to this need by launching the Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program. This program provides pro bono oral care to the most economically vulnerable Holocaust survivors, in addition to individuals of any faith who are survivors of Nazi persecution and meet the eligibility requirements of the program. The scope of treatment is wide and comprehensive, ranging from emergency care to restorative, endodontic, periodontal, oral surgery, and prosthetic treatment—all expertly delivered free of charge by Alpha Omega’s participating members.
The Alpha Omega Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health program was created in response to the White House’s 2014 call to action to develop innovative public-private partnerships to help Holocaust survivors. Henry Schein Cares is happy to provide in-kind services as part of this innovative collaboration across sectors. Since its inception, the program has provided nearly 1,600 Holocaust survivors across North America with pro bono dental care valued at over $3.8 million. By increasing Holocaust survivors’ access to oral care, the program seeks to significantly enhance their overall quality of life.
University of British Columbia
In March 2020, University of British Columbia (UBC) Faculty of Dentistry announced a multi-year agreement with Henry Schein Canada, Henry Schein Cares, and the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, in support of the UBC Geriatric Dentistry Program. As a result, the program’s dental and dental hygiene students have been able to provide no-cost dental care for seniors residing in long-term care hospitals. This collaboration has been vital in responding to the urgent and specific needs of one of the most vulnerable populations amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Henry Schein will provide the program with a combined gift of funding and in-kind product donations over a five-year period. This gift will include a wide range of products supporting the UBC Dentistry curriculum developed for geriatric treatment education. The Henry Schein Cares Foundation is proud to partner with UBC Geriatric Dentistry in preparing students to treat geriatric patients, as well as delivering much needed oral health care to the elderly community.