Wednesday, December 18, 2019

UMC Provides Dental Care to JPS Students

UMC posted the following story written by Kate Royals. 


Dr. Lake Garner, a 1996 alumnus of the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry, is giving back in a big way to his school and the community it serves.
 

Beginning in February, Garner is committing $20,000 a year to help dental students and faculty members provide free treatment for elementary students in the Jackson Public School district. This will mark the 14th year of Give Kids a Smile, which makes up one day of the school’s annual Dental Mission Week.
The American Dental Association began the national Give Kids a Smile program in 2003 as a way for dentists to join with the community to provide dental services to underserved children.
In 2017, the School of Dentistry incorporated Give Kids a Smile into a new, weeklong effort providing care to underserved and uninsured adults and veterans from across the state. In its third year, students and faculty treated more than 1,300 – nearly 400 of them children – during Dental Mission Week.
“Throughout my career, I have treated a great amount of children, and adults, who were not given access to proper dental care early on,” Garner, the chief executive officer of Garner Dental Group, said. “To achieve a lifelong health smile, children must understand the importance of good oral hygiene and be offered the opportunity to achieve such at an early age. Every child deserves the chance at a healthy smile.”
Hattiesburg-based Garner Dental Group operates 15 locations in Mississippi and one in Mobile, Alabama, and employs 200 people.
Dr. David Felton, dean of the School of Dentistry, says Give Kids a Smile is an integral part of the school, and he is extremely grateful for Garner’s commitment to it.
“That Dr. Garner has stepped up to help sponsor GKAS enables the school to provide additional services to these children and help offset the expense associated with the week’s events,” Felton said. “We are extremely grateful to Dr. Garner for his support of the GKAS program and of his support of the School of Dentistry. His visionary gift should set the bar for future giving to the School of Dentistry and our outreach programs.”

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice gesture. I'm also impressed with simple things like buying a boy a sport coat for an interview and showing him how to tie a tie. Little things matter. Pride during an interview is a winner.

Anonymous said...

Rather they practice on them than me !

Anonymous said...

They bill the dental services of the JPS kids to Medicaid or Chips. Not free to taxpayers.

Anonymous said...

You have any evidence to support that claim, 10:11?

Anonymous said...

More free stuff to them, but not for us.

Anonymous said...

I doubt that, 10:11, but at minimum, it's a charitable deduction. In any event, they could make more money at work in the office or have more fun using this time for deer camp.

I'm Not An Idiot said...

@10:11, when you don't know what you're talking about, do us all a favor and just refrain from commenting. Nothing about the Give Kids A Smile effort gets billed to any agency, person, government program, etc. It's FREE! Totally free. UMMC's dental school organizes their GKAS event and then many dentists throughout the state (and nation) hold events too. Dr. Garner chose to fund/provide dental services in conjunction with UMMC's event, which was smart of him because now the UMMC PR machine is publicizing his donation/volunteerism. In the spirit of the Christmas season, let's applaud this gift and not post stupid comments tearing it down.

Anonymous said...

"It's for the children." (Adolph Hitler, 1938)

Open Wide, Insert Foot said...

I had a dental appointment this morning and asked my dentist about the claim that they (he volunteers his time) file medicare and medicaid claims. He laughed, and, in effect, said that's bullshit. He totally volunteers his time and the time of his staff who are also there. And he pays his staff for showing up for the volunteer services.

Anonymous said...

@4:17 You should be old enough to know that you should NOT believe everything (or possibly anything) your healthcare provider tells you related to billing or funding. It is NOT a subject 95% of them like to discuss AT ALL with anybody.....and probably never with patients.

Signed, a licensed healthcare practitioner of 30 years.



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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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