S4L Expands; Dr. Hottel Rocks!

This week has started off with a bang! Aimee Spencer, the National Executive Director of Smile for a Lifetime Foundation, reports that there are close to 40 orthodontist in varying stages of starting their very own chapter of S4L! What an awesome change these members of the Schulman Study Group will make for children in desperate need of care all over the USA. In a time when most businesses are tightening their belts and cutting back on charitable giving, these businessmen and women are actually giving away thousands of dollars in treatment to the most vulnerable in their communities! S4L’s National Board of Directors has added a new member yesterday – Dr. David Carter, an orthodontist who practices in Augusta, GA as well as in SC. David has a fire in his belly and uncanny insight and he brings so much to the already formidable talent on the Board of Directors. A list of all the Board of Directors members and their bios can be found on the website smileforalifetimefoundation.com . The Board is also busily working on a business plan to present to the American Association of Orthodontists Task Force on Access to Care. S4L is one of three programs the AAO is considering adopting in doing its part to address the issue of access to care.
We are well on our way to getting the Central Arkansas chapter of Smile for a Lifetime up and going. Aimee Spencer has hand picked a knockout board of directors to oversee this chapter which will treat 12 patients each year free of charge. The official press release to announce the all star board members will be April 3rd at noon and we will also learn the name of the first recipient of free orthodontic care. Between the Central Arkansas and the Northeast Arkansas chapters of Smile for a Lifetime, almost half the state is covered!
On another note, I went to lunch today with Dr. Hottel, Dean of the UT College of Dentistry in Memphis and I have to say he is an awesome guy. He has the knowledge, experience and vision to pull our school into the modern era – and just in time as far as I’m concerned. Dr. Hottel has big plans to upgrade the curriculum, research capabilities and the physical plant and will need alumni support to make up for the dwindling government funds. He told me today that he will increase the number of Arkansas students admitted by 5 this year and has plans to take even more Arkansas students if his negotiations with the state are successful. We sure could use the dental professionals in Arkansas! If you get the chance I highly recommend you meet Dr. Hottel and support him in his crusade to put UT College of Dentistry on the map for all the right reasons.