While we recently celebrated Veteran’s Day, it is important to continue to keep in mind the sacrifices of our veterans. It shouldn’t take a holiday to reach out and offer a helping hand, which is why it is so notable that the local Sacramento business community continues to come together to help veterans in need.
In May, the Department of Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System McClellan Dental Clinic was damaged by a fire. As a result, thousands of our nation’s veterans lost access to local dental care.
Shortly after the fire, Veterans Affairs (VA) contacted Carrington College California to inquire if it would be possible to utilize its teaching facilities to help maintain dental care to veterans. They gladly accepted and provided care to the veterans, and recently, the 600th veteran was serviced.
“We are extremely grateful that Carrington is giving us the opportunity to provide basic dental care to our community’s veterans,” said Dr. Steven Nevins, chief of dental services for Northern California VA Healthcare Systems.
When news of the fire emerged, the college quickly extended an offer to help. According to Dr. Diana Quilici, dentist at VA, the college said it was their patriotic duty and privilege to support veteran dental care.
“Carrington College California would do whatever it could to support the dental care of our nation’s most deserving veterans,” said Quilici. “Carrington opened its doors to our clinic staff and patients and to date, VA hygienists have treated more than 600 veterans, utilizing the college’s dental assistant training facility.”
Without the help of Carrington College California Sacramento, the veterans would have needed to travel at least three hours round-trip to the next closest VA facility, or risk not getting dental care at all.
Fortunately, dental hygiene and dental assisting students and staff at the Sacramento campus continue to happily assist the VA staff, making sure that a full team is always available for the veterans.
