Gregory Bennett, DMD, associate professor, and Erin Wirth, director of communications, marketing and community outreach, received 2024 “Sustained Excellence in Nebraska Oral Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Patient Education” awards from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Oral Health and Dentistry. The awards recognize individuals’ contributions to public health initiatives that impact Nebraskans.
Dr. Bennett was recognized for his involvement in the 2023 Veterans Mission of Mercy (MOM) event where free dental care was provided to underserved veterans and their spouses. During the event, held at the National Army Guard Titan Readiness Center in Yutan on October 6-7, 2023, 309 individuals – 225 veterans and 84 spouses/surviving spouses of veterans – received $406,512 worth of free dental care.
Dr. Charles “Fritz” Craft, state dental health director, said, “Dr. Bennett volunteered his time and professional experience to greatly enhance the overall impact of the Veterans MOM. He served as the chief for the prosthodontic section that provided outstanding denture care for 60 patients. Those services represented more than 36% of the total mission care value.”
Erin Wirth was recognized for her contributions to the Early Dental Health Starter Kit Educational Program. The goal of the program is to help prevent dental disease in children. Dental health kits are packed with unique oral hygiene items for children from birth to 6 years old and are given at no cost to caregivers throughout Nebraska.
The Early Dental Health Starter Kit Educational Program is a collaboration between the UNMC College of Dentistry, Nebraska DHHS Office of Oral Health and Dentistry, and the Nebraska Community Foundation.