Lindsey
When’s the last time you enjoyed going to the dentist? For many of us, including myself, it is a task that we certainly dread every six months. However, we put ourselves in that chair and go through the examination because of how important oral health is to a person’s overall wellbeing. Imagine if we didn’t have access to dental care? For some of those people that wouldn’t necessarily have dental insurance, Mary Lashley is there to ensure that they receive the oral healthcare that they require.
Mary Lashley
Mary Lashley is known here at Towson University as a Professor in the Nursing Department. Every day, she goes above and beyond her traditional role and aligns herself with TU’s 2010 Strategic Plan to be active and involved in the community. This is a passion she shares with students by taking them off campus and to the Helping Up Mission to participate in an exciting project: An Oral Health Intervention Program for the Homeless: A Community-Academic Partnership.
Collaborating with the University of Maryland Dental School, this exciting initiative has worked since 2006 to offer education, screenings, and easier access to dental care for homeless citizens of Baltimore City. The main goals of the partnership are to: (1) improve clients’ oral function, appearance, and self-confidence so that they may enjoy better health and improved employability; and (2) inspire future health care professionals to work with homeless and underserved populations.
By participating in this wonderful opportunity, Towson University students are getting a unique and worthwhile experience that they can take to benefit them in and outside of the classroom. For more information on the Oral Health Intervention Program, please contact Mary Lashley at mlashley@towson.edu.
