Pop-Up Clinic Offers Free Dental Care

People in the Savannah area were provided with free dental services at a pop-up clinic courtesy of the Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council. Dr. Randall Ford, a doctoral student in the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, chaired the committee that selected and hosted Remote Area Medical as the two organizations held a clinic at the Garden City Recreation Center. Remote Area Medical is a nonprofit with a mission to provide free quality health care to people in need. Ford, who is also a dentist, said he had worked with the organization before, and his committee believed it would be a good fit for the Chatham community. Several faculty and staff members from the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Waters College of Health Professions, Parker College of Business and Savannah Technical College along with dozens of students from the colleges participated in making the event a success. The weekend pop-up clinic exceeded expectations.

“In two days, we served 174 patients and delivered over $77,000 worth of free dentistry services,” Ford said. He added patients were grateful, and he’s hopeful they can offer the free event again next year. A team of medical volunteers provided such services as cleanings, fillings and extractions. The volunteers were dentists, oral surgeons, dental hygienists, assistants, and non-dental personnel. Ford also thanked Reginald Lee, executive director of the Planning Council, saying “we couldn’t have done this for Chatham County without the leadership that Mr. Lee provided.”