Operation East Texas

Students trade summer break for outreach

Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry students spent part of their two-week summer break providing free dental care to needy individuals in Southeast Texas through a partnership with the Texas Department of State Health Services. Faculty supervisors Drs. Daniel Jones and Stephen Crane, and 34 TAMBCD dental student volunteers traveled to Van, Texas, 72 miles southeast of Dallas.

Along with Texas Health Services regional dentist, Dr. Joshua Liescheski, they transformed the Van Junior High School gymnasium into temporary dental operatories for the weeklong event that ended June 6. The gym also served as sleeping quarters for the dental team members, who rested on cots after treating the last patient each day. In all, more than 300 patients received free dental care.

The Operation East Texas team was featured on the “Something Good” segment on NBC Channel 5 news in Dallas.