2023 Delta Dental Community Scholars

Three Penn Dental Medicine students have been named 2023 Delta Dental Community Scholars, each receiving a sizeable scholarship in recognition of their community service, academic achievement, and future plans to work with vulnerable populations after graduation. Since its launch in 2019, the program has awarded scholarships to 17 talented Penn Dental Medicine students who have expressed a commitment to helping expand access to oral healthcare for hard to reach populations. This year’s recipients include Julie Berenblum, D’23, Ayesha Khan, D’23, and Jenna Panek, D’23.

Passionate about engaging with individuals in the local community, Julie Berenblum co-founded Penntorship in 2020, a mentorship program between Penn Dental Medicine students and local West Philadelphia High School students. The goals of the program are to foster meaningful relationships to enhance personal growth, academic success, and engagement in post-secondary exploration and to serve as an outlet for Penn Dental Medicine students to connect with others and engage in community activities.

Since the launch of Penntorship, over 100 Penn Dental Medicine students have served as mentors for high school students. After graduation, Ms. Berenblum will pursue a general practice residency program at the Manhattan VA.

Ayesha Khan first experienced community-based dental care when volunteering as a Spanish interpreter at a medical and dental clinic before entering dental school. Her activities at Penn Dental Medicine have also included the First Five honors program, conducting oral health exams and prophylaxis on children under 5 years old and providing guidance and nutritional counseling to parents. Ms. Khan also participated in a pop-up clinic for recently settled Afghan refugees. In addition, she has been active in the student chapter of the American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD), serving as chair of public relations as well as president, working with board members to increase awareness of the issues plaguing the U.S. healthcare system. After graduation, Ms. Khan will pursue a pediatric dental residency at One Brooklyn Health.

Jenna Panek is a National Health Service Corps Scholar, who will practice in an underserved community after graduation. In addition, she has been part of the Community Oral Health Honors Program, working with children and parents as part of the First Five program and at Philadelphia FIGHT. She has also been involved with Penntorship, the mentorship program that engages with West Philadelphia High School students. In addition, Ms. Panek is this year’s LEND fellow at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, gaining interdisciplinary training working with children and adolescents with developmental disabilities. She will pursue a pediatric dental residency at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

Read the original article here: https://almanac.upenn.edu/articles/2023-delta-dental-community-scholars/