Tesia Posekany One of 17 Buena Vista University Student Volunteers at Iowa Mission of Mercy Dental Clinic

2010 Nov 16

Tesia Posekany from Woodburn was one of seventeen science students from Buena Vista University who joined over 1,000 volunteers in helping to provide free dental care to over 1,500 patients at the 3rd annual Iowa Mission of Mercy (IMOM) clinic.

The clinic provided the BVU students with the opportunity to help people in need, as well as observe various aspects of the dental profession in one place and in one day. Some 200 dentists volunteered their services for the two-day clinic which was held Nov. 5-6 at the U.S. Cellular Center at Cedar Rapids and provided free dental care valued at $950,000.

The BVU students traveled to Cedar Rapids with Dr. Brian Lenzmeier, associate professor of biology, on Nov. 6 and returned to campus later that evening. Several of the students had participated in the IMOM event in 2009 at Newton.

"This was a great opportunity for pre-professional students to help people who really needed dental work and mostly could not afford the work they received," says Lenzmeier. "Our students spent a lot of time interacting with patients and helping them through the process both logistically as well as emotionally. This gives our students some great real-world experience with direct contact with patients." Several of the science students are planning on careers in dentistry.

Mysty Shaver, a senior biology and pre-dentistry major from Springville, says "I decided many years ago that when I became a dentist, I wanted to volunteer my services to less fortunate individuals and communities, whether it be in third world countries, or those here in the U.S. without access to dental insurance. IMOM is a perfect example of the latter. Being able to volunteer at such an event increases the desire I have to give back when I am able. I would love to not only be a part of future IMOMs, but also spend time outside of the U.S. doing the same thing." Shaver, who has been pre-accepted at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, also participated in the 2009 IMOM clinic.

Care provided by the dentists included cleanings, fillings and extractions. IMOM is affiliated with the Iowa Dental Association and the Iowa / Nebraska Primary Care Association.

Shaver and Marc Legge, a junior from Garner, are the recipients of BVU's 2011 Undergraduate Rural Dentistry Internship fellowship which provides internships with local dentists during BVU's January interim. As part of this program, each will receive a $3,000 stipend to help with the costs related to applying to dental school. The program is funded by a grant from Delta Dental Foundation.

Posekany is a sophomore majoring in biology.

Buena Vista University is a regionally acclaimed university that relentlessly focuses on learning with innovative and imaginative programs. The faculty, staff and students set and meet the highest standards of academic achievement, character, conscience and compassion.

Photo caption: Students participating in the event with Dr. Lenzmeier, shown, first row, from left: Rachael Reicks, junior from Carroll; Sarah Larson, senior from Storm Lake; Emily Nielsen, senior from Exira; Mysty Shaver, senior from Springville; Kim Perez, junior from Brownsville, Texas; Brittany Loy, freshman from Logan. Second row, from left: Dr. Lenzmeier; Brooke Wehle, sophomore from Denison; Marc Legge, junior from Garner; Nikki Hanish sophomore from South Sioux City, Neb.; John Killpack, sophomore from Logan; Miguel Munoz-Gomez, sophomore from Storm Lake; Robin Jackson, senior from Fonda; Grant Turner, senior from Omaha, Neb.; Andrew Ohlrich, sophomore from Hornick; Tesia Posekany, sophomore from Woodburn; Michael Dirkx, junior from Carroll; Raisa Bucheli, junior from Storm Lake.