Association Activities

Foundation Secures $46,000 Grant to Continue Expanding Access to Dental Care Across New York

THE NEW YORK STATE DENTAL FOUNDATION is proud to announce it has been awarded a $46,000 grant from the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation to support year two of “My Healthy Smile NY,” a transformative initiative designed to address oral health disparities and connect vulnerable New Yorkers with much-needed care.

Launched in 2024 with $10,000 in funding from the Henry Schein Cares Foundation and $40,000 from the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation, My Healthy Smile NY deployed community dental health coordinators (CDHCs) in four key regions of the state: Long Island, Central New York, the Capital Region and the North Country. These specially trained oral health professionals serve as patient navigators, outreach specialists and oral health advocates — working directly within communities to improve access and awareness.

Volunteer dental hygienist performs oral health screening for visitor to Foundation’s booth at Watertown Wolves hockey game last February. The individual, new to area, also received assistance from North Country CDHC finding dental home.

The New York State Dental Foundation invested an additional $57,900 in staff time and overhead to ensure the success of My Healthy Smile NY from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, noting that crucial operating support from NYSDA members and corporate partners enabled the program to thrive in year one.

Year One Highlights

In its first year, the My Healthy Smile NY program achieved meaningful impact:

• Coordinated free dental care for veterans through the “Salute Vets with a Smile” program.

• Facilitated oral health screenings in Glens Falls, Watertown and Central Islip.

• Supported major initiatives like the Capital Region Community Dental Event, screening dozens of patients and connecting many to care in a single day.

• Laid the groundwork for an Early Head Start Oral Health Prevention Project in the North Country, Central New York and Long Island.

A remarkable 81% of the program’s 246 participants achieved access to a free oral health screening and/or received pro bono care from a dental provider. NYSDA members volunteered an estimated 261 hours to treat veterans and provide screenings or care for participants at community events. These accomplishments represent just the beginning of what’s possible when communities concerned with oral health come together.

The program’s strength lies in the commitment and compassion of the CDHCs, who are on the front lines of addressing oral health inequities.

“When you connect a veteran who’s been in pain for years with a dentist who’s willing to help, you change a life in a single phone call,” said Christine Macarelli, a CDHC managing cases primarily in the Capital Region. “That’s the power of this program.”

Thanks to the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation, Christine and her fellow CDHCs will be able to delve even deeper into this work during year two. This will include additional community outreach and a continuation of Salute Vets with a Smile. Year two, which is already underway, will introduce dental career exploration events for high school students and expand the Early Head Start Oral Health Prevention Project, which was originally piloted in Schoharie in 2024.

The Foundation is exploring opportunities to add additional CDHC positions in other high-need regions and to focus on specific populations, such as individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), as funding allows.

Touro Dean Named to State Board

RONNIE MYERS, D.D.S., dean, Touro College of Dental Medicine, has been reappointed to a five-year term as an extended member of the New York State Board for Dentistry. Dr. Myers, who will serve through July 31, 2029, will participate in licensure disciplinary and/or licensure restoration and moral character panels.

In Memoriam

NEW YORK COUNTYSui-Yee H. KowNew York University ‘73140 W 58th Street, #1New York, NY 10019June 1, 2025

SECOND DISTRICTMelvin BrennerUniversity of Pittsburgh ‘49300 Jericho Turnpike, #321 Jericho, NY 11753November 4, 2023

Carl GoldTemple University ‘5726 Deepwater WayBronx, NY 10464July 30, 2025

Bruce MaltzNew York University ‘65690 E Park Avenue, Apt 1Long Beach, NY 11561June 27, 2025

Bertram SandsNew York University ‘58 569 King StreetChappaqua, NY 10514June 24, 2025

THIRD DISTRICTDonald V. GroskyGeorgetown University ‘60 13 Devonshire WayHalfmoon, NY 12065June 29, 2025

FIFTH DISTRICTCharles DiCosimoUniversity at Buffalo ‘74 8415 Hobnail RoadManlius, NY 13104July 13, 2025

S. G. ArvantidesNew York University ‘60 3322 Misty Cove Circle Baldwinsville, NY 13027July 1, 2025

Dean HydeUniversity of Colorado ‘78 9278 County Route 125 Chaumont, NY 13622June 14, 2025

SIXTH DISTRICTSteven GrossmanGeorgetown University ‘90 947 Harvard StreetEndicott, NY 13760July 22, 2025

EIGHTH DISTRICTJames LeittenUniversity at Buffalo ‘67 22323 Panther Loop Bradenton, FL 34202May 17, 2025

NINTH DISTRICTJoseph CasaleColumbia University ‘61 7321 Rustic Valley DriveDallas, TX 75248June 18, 2025

John A. MorganNew York University ‘76 1374 Midland Avenue, #207June 12, 2025

NASSAU COUNTYMelvin FrankelNew York University ‘482050 Bonisle CircleRiviera Beach, FL 33418June 4, 2025