College of Dental Medicine-Illinois Hosts Inaugural “Give Kids a Smile” Event
Multi-day clinic helps expand access to pediatric dental care
Midwestern University dental students provided free exams and oral health education to young patients during the inaugural Give Kids a Smile event.
Midwestern University’s College of Dental Medicine-Illinois (CDMI) hosted its inaugural Give Kids a Smile event from April 1-4, 2025, bringing together student dentists, faculty, and interprofessional collaborators to deliver free dental care and oral health education to local children.
A National Program with a Local Impact
Sponsored by the American Dental Association, the Give Kids a Smile (GKAS) program focuses on improving access to care for underserved children and empowering future dental professionals through hands-on service opportunities. Held at the Dental Institute within the Midwestern University Multispecialty Clinic, the four-day event welcomed 14 pediatric patients for free exams, cleanings, and education on oral hygiene and nutrition.
Each child received a full student-led appointment, and one patient received a necessary tooth extraction. Nearly 70 student volunteers participated, guided by their faculty mentors.
Student Leadership in Action
The event was spearheaded by Sarah Middleton (CDMI ’26), a third-year dental student at CDMI and 2LT in the U.S. Army Medical Department. Working alongside her faculty mentor, Sheila Hall, D.D.S., Clinical Assistant Professor and pediatric dentist at the Dental Institute, the two played a key role in developing the event’s theme, coordinating volunteers, and organizing educational activities.
“Before coming to Midwestern University, I volunteered heavily in community dental clinics, which sparked a deep passion for service and access to care,” Sarah said. “The Give Kids a Smile program became the perfect resource to continue serving my surrounding community. Being part of an event that focuses on prevention, education, and compassionate care aligns closely with the values that brought me into dentistry in the first place.”
Creating a Child-Friendly, Empowering Environment
Appointments were available during regular clinic hours, with children and their families receiving education on preventative care and healthy food choices in a warm, welcoming space designed to reduce fear and promote fun.
“Seeing their initial nervousness transform into curiosity and even excitement was incredibly rewarding,” Sarah added. “We made it a point to engage each child in a way that made them feel comfortable and special.”
Interprofessional Collaboration Enhances Care
The event included a unique partnership with the Midwestern University Speech-Language Institute, giving speech-language pathology students the chance to participate alongside dental students. Six speech-language pathology students, six clients, and their parents joined the clinic for joint educational activities.
“It was a meaningful reminder of the importance of teamwork in healthcare,” Sarah said. “For the patients, it meant a more holistic experience, where their oral health, communication development, and overall well-being were all being supported in one setting. For us as students, it reinforced how powerful interdisciplinary collaboration can be when it comes to treating the whole patient, not just their immediate needs.”
A Memorable Milestone
One particularly touching moment came from a young patient who arrived on the very first day with a quiet demeanor and an uncertain look in her eyes.
“We had limited background on her previous dental experiences,” Sarah recalled, “but we knew there had been a gap in care. From the moment she arrived, our student volunteers made her feel welcomed and comfortable, explaining everything in kid-friendly terms and taking the time to build trust.”
That gentle, reassuring approach made all the difference. During her initial exam, the team identified a large cavity and took an X-ray to assess the situation. The child was scheduled to return for a primary tooth extraction the next day.
“When she came back, she actually arrived early just so she’d have time to play before her appointment,” Sarah said. “What stood out most was how much her confidence had grown. She even picked up one of our dental puppets and used it to show me how to take an X-ray, remembering exactly what we had taught her earlier in the week.”
No longer nervous, she climbed into the dental chair with confidence. By the end of the visit, the patient was all smiles, thanked the student dentist, and headed back to the play area.
“That transformation—from nervous to empowered—was such a powerful reminder of why these events matter,” Sarah said. “Events like Give Kids a Smile are not only life-changing for the patients, but also incredibly valuable for student volunteers. They give us the chance to gain real pediatric experience, grow our confidence, and deepen our passion for patient-centered care.”
Community Partners and Special Guests
The event welcomed Antegoni (Andie) Kyros, national manager of the GKAS program, and Cindy Nazzarini, Program Director at Hope’s Front Door. It was guided by a CDMI faculty advisory board including Dr. Stephen Palatinus, Dr. Ahmed El-Maghraby, Dr. Paulina Sawicki, Dr. Celia Mimms, Dr. Ghassan Souri, Lisa McClanahan, Mehul Patel. Clinical Education Coordinator Julie Kloppmann oversaw the planning and logistics of the event, and faculty member Dr. Ghassan Souri and Practice Assistant Mehul Patel provided hands-on support in the clinic, ensuring smooth operations and quality care throughout the four-day program.
