ST. PETERSBURG, Florida--Dawson Academy faculty member, Andrew C. Cobb, DDS, has received the 2008 Small Business Humanitarian of the Year Award.
Dr. Cobb of Bethesda, Md., was presented the award along with Gael M. Delany, DDS, of Chevy Chase, Md., and Michael T. Keegan, MD, of Rockville, Md., by the Small Business Council of America May 7, 2008.
The trio were recognized for their work with Somos Amigos Medical Missions--a nonprofit, public charity corporation that provides medical and dental care to people living in a rural area of the Dominican Republic. By volunteering their time and money, Drs. Cobb, Delany, Keegan and other volunteers have created a clinic that provides medical and dental care to thousands of people who otherwise would have no access to health care.
Not only do the three donate time, but they have been able to assemble a team of dentists and physicians who also provide free dental and medical care.
"Initially once a year, and then twice a year for the past five years--and beginning in 2008 three times a year--our volunteers travel to Naranjito in the Dominican Republic and staff our clinic," Dr. Cobb said. "We have become the physicians and dentists for these simple, but grateful people. What makes Somos Amigos Dental Clinic unique in a third-world country is that we strive to create a state of dental health which can be sustained over a lifetime.
"Prevention, restorations, prosthetics and even endodontic treatments are offered. We have seen a great improvement in the dental health of the children in the immediate area because of their visits to our clinic. Most of our patients travel by foot or mule to reach our clinic; many travel two to three hours each way for an opportunity to be seen by our professionals."
"The Dawson Academy would like to congratulate Dr. Cobb for receiving an award for such a fantastic cause," said Joan Forrest, president and CEO of the Dawson Academy. "We encourage our faculty members to participate in worldwide dental outreach programs that help the less fortunate, and there's no better example of that type of commitment than Dr. Cobb. We are extremely honored to have him here at the Dawson Academy."
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