The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Dentistry, in partnership with the UAB schools of Medicine, Nursing, Health Professions and Optometry, received a $150,000 renewal grant through the DentaQuest Foundation to train professional students to work collaboratively and recognize when they should make referrals to other professions.
Part of the project involves conducting free, school-based health screenings for children in selected Birmingham city schools. The project, “Smiles for Alabama,” unites students from each of the UAB professional schools with Sight Savers America’s Alabama KidCheck to screen children for health, dental or eyesight issues, and it identifies those who need follow-up care.
This is a continuation grant based on a pilot project conducted in 2011 that also was funded by the foundation.
Teams of students from each school record children’s weight and height; check their blood pressure; examine their ears, noses and throats; listen to their hearts for any murmurs; check their lungs; and look at their musculoskeletal systems to check for scoliosis. The children also receive vision and dental screenings. Other collaborating partners in the project include United Way of Central Alabama Success by 6, the Jefferson County Department of Health and the Alabama Department of Public Health.
