A perfect opportunity to give back
When she traveled to the Dominican Republic for a short vacation in 1984, Elina Katsman, RDH, who was a dental assistant at the time, was struck with the poor condition of children's teeth. A volunteer and giver at heart, she decided she needed to do something to help.
Katsman returned home to Toronto and studied to become a dental hygienist. In 1987 she set out to spend a year in the Dominican Republic and begin her volunteer work. One year stretched to 15 as she watched her charitable organization, Smiles Foundation, explode.
Today, Smiles Foundation serves the Dominican Republic, United States, and Canada, where Katsman lives. As people's needs continue to grow, she's calling on her peers to support Smiles Foundation in any way they can.
"We're looking for volunteers in the field who can potentially dedicate a few hours a week to help out in our donor relations team," she said. "We need help both in the US and Canada. Of course, today's remote volunteering is borderless, so it's easy and helps with some incredible needs."
Katsman invites everyone to visit the Smiles Foundation website to learn more, and hopefully be inspired to volunteer. Feel free to email [email protected] to have your questions answered directly. There are opportunities to donate time, money, or both.
About the Author
Jackie Sanders, MBA, RDHJackie Sanders, MBA, RDH
Chief Editor, RDH magazine
Jackie Sanders, MBA, RDH, is a respected dental industry leader with more than 40 years of experience in dental hygiene, marketing, and professional relations. As chief editor of RDH, she is dedicated to advancing the dental profession through education, innovation, and collaboration. Prior to this role, she served as manager of professional relations and communications for Sunstar/GUM, building strong connections with industry associations, educational institutions, and dental professionals nationwide. Jackie has also contributed her expertise through committee service with organizations including the American Dental Education Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.