Press releases

Yale-New Haven Hospital news release
Release date: June 22, 2005
Media contact: Mark D'Antonio, (203) 688-2493

Yale-New Haven Hospital’s Pediatric Dentistry Center honored as CHA’s 2005 Connecticut Hospital Community Service award recipient

Yale-New Haven Hospital's Pediatric Dentistry Center has been awarded the Connecticut's Hospital 2005 Community Service Award. The award, sponsored jointly each year by the Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) and the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), recognizes a Connecticut hospital that has made an outstanding contribution to the health of its community. Yale-New Haven Hospital received the award for its pediatric dentistry program.

"We are honored that our commitment to the community has been recognized by CHA," said Joseph A. Zaccagnino, president and CEO at Yale-New Haven Hospital. "The Pediatric Dentistry Center plays a unique and critical role, providing essential dental services for children who lack insurance or who may be underinsured."

The Yale-New Haven Hospital Pediatric Dentistry Center opened in 2004 to help eliminate oral health disparities in the New Haven area. The center provides comprehensive dental care for the underserved children in greater New Haven, serving a primarily minority patient population, 90% of whom are covered by Medicaid. The Pediatric Dentistry Center also serves pediatric patients who are disabled or have special needs with a specially-trained staff to deal with those challenges. The center is part of Yale-New Haven Hospital's department of community health.

Since officially opening last October, the Pediatric Dentistry Center has treated more than 1,500 patients. It began as a part-time program in 1999, and since that time, Yale-New Haven Hospital has invested more than $1.3 million in capital and incremental expenses in the center, which includes eight full time staff and two residents. In addition, more than 42 dentists throughout the state donate in-kind professional services totaling more than $300,000.

"With two additional residents and staff coming on board later this year, we expect our Pediatric Dentistry Center to continue the dramatic growth and outreach into the community we are privileged to serve," said James Rawlings, executive director of community health at Yale-New Haven Hospital. "Our Pediatric Dentistry Center will continue to provide training for a new generation of specialty dentists who demonstrate the compassion required to serve the needs of an underserved population and show a desire to treat patients who are medically compromised and have special needs, including children with cancer, heart disease, HIV, and a variety of developmental disabilities."

The Pediatric Dentistry Center is located at 860 Howard Avenue in New Haven, across the street from the Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital.

Reporters: For more information on this release, contact Mark D'Antonio, (203) 688-2493.

Return to: News Release Index

Last revised: June 22, 2005 (mv)

Home page URL: http://www.ynhh.org

All information is intended for your general knowledge and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regimen.