The Jamaica initiative provides basic dental care and oral hygiene instruction to underserved communities in Jamaica.
University of Michigan Dental Students interact with and serve both children and adult patients from several regions in Jamaica. Students gain an understanding of the challenges associated with making health care accessible in developing nations. They learn to organize a suitable, safe, and compliant space for the delivery of basic dental services.
The Jamaican Outreach is facilitated by Health Care International, Inc., founded in 1991 by Dr. Noel Brown, a graduate of New York University College of Dentistry. This outreach is operated with assistance from the Jamaica Ministries of Health, the University of Michigan Student National Dental Association (SNDA), students and faculty from Tufts University College of Dentistry, and the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.
