Events

December 2006

Healing the Children

ongoing event - Local Events

Healing the Children (HTC) is a non profit organization whose purpose is to help children from third world countries with serious medical problems that could not be addressed in their home land. Problems include congenital defects, like cleft palate and heart problems, or environmental accidents such as serious burns. Children are identified by doctors on field trips or by doctors near their home for treatment in the USA. To learn more or to consider being a volunteer please visit the HTC website. Click on the HTC log to check out the work of this great organization.

The program works fundamentally with volunteer effort. Doctors volunteer their talent, hospitals volunteer their services, and host families volunteer as surrogate parents while the kids undergo treatment in our area. HTC is always looking for more volunteers in every area.

The Holland area has been host to many kids throughout the years. While orthodontic care is not a primary focus of the program, once kids are stateside HTC coordinators work to address as many issues as possible before the children return to their home. Dr Oppenhuizen is proud to have participated helping kids with orthodontic issues who have come to the Holland/Zeeland area.

Joleen, featured in these photographs, was in Holland for another procedure. However, she also had significant dental needs. Dr Sterken, a local Pediatric dentist provided the necessary dental services for Joleen. Dr Oppenhuizen followed up orthodontically, all before she returned to her home in St Kitts.

http://www.htcmichiganohio.org/

Miles of Smiles (Ottawa County)

ongoing event - Local Events

Miles of Smiles is a mobile dental outreach program that is a project of the Ottawa County Health Department. The program also receives funding from The West Michigan Dental Foundation.

Dr. Oppenhuizen has been on the board of the West Michigan Dental Foundation for many years and has worked to support funding of this outstanding public health project in our area. Dr Oppenhuizen also has worked on the dental van seeing local children for dental examinations, sealants, and cleanings. Dr. Oppenhuizen has also supervised the work of dental hygiene students from Grand Rapids Community College working on Miles of Smiles.

We are proud of the Miles of Smiles program and glad to do our part.

http://www.miottawa.org/HealthComm/Health/dental.htm

January 2007

Career Day (Holland West Middle School)

Jan 1, 2007 - Local Events

In January 2007 Dr. Oppenhuizen participated in the Holland West Middle School Career Day. On Career Day the students get to learn about careers in many different fields. The students choose from several different presentations and then rotate from class to class to listen to the speakers talk about their career.

The goal of career day is to stimulate middle school kids to think about their future and to apply themselves to work for a career goal. Dr Oppenhuizen gave a presentation about becoming an orthodontist and how he spends his work day.

http://www.hollandpublicschools.org/

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