Outreach Interventions at the UB School of Dental Medicine

The University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine provide a variety of experiences for students, staff, and faculty to engage with providers from other disciplines to coordinate and deliver services to communities across Western New York. The presentation will highlight these interventions and the populations who benefit from the services provided. A special focus will be placed on the care our delivered on our Mobile Dental Units.

About Joseph Gambacorta and Paula Fischer
Dr. Joseph Gambacorta is a 1993 graduate of the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine UB-SDM and received his MPH from the UB School of Public Health and Health Professions in 2022. He was hired as a faculty member at the UB-SDM in 2002. He has served as the associate dean for clinical affairs from 2012-2021, the associate dean for academic and faculty affairs from 2021-2023, and now serves as the associate dean for community engagement and global initiatives at the School of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Gambacorta is the faculty advisor for Buffalo Outreach and Community Assistance (BOCA). BOCA is a public health organization that unifies students and professionals to promote dental education and deliver care to those in need. Since 2006, he has led student outreach experiences to several international and domestic locations. As the interim assistant Vice President for Interprofessional Education, Dr. Gambacorta has engaged several units across the UB Academic Health Center to offer collaborative practice experiences to students and faculty.

Dr. Gambacorta is very active in organized dentistry and the UB Dental Alumni Association (UB-DAA). He is immediate past president of the Eighth District Dental Society and Chair of the Council on Continuing Dental Education and Licensure for the New York State Dental Association. He is past President of the UB-DAA and continues to serve on the executive board.

Paula Fischer, RDH attended Monroe Community College and Empire State College. Ms. Fischer has an extensive background as a public health dental hygienist. Over her 38-year career she has worked in general, pediatric and periodontal practices. Her public health career was launched in 1990 when she took a position in the Periodontal Department at Eastman Dental Center and treated a wide variety of patients including patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She went on to serve as the Surveillance Training and Educational Coordinator for the NYS Oral Health Technical Assistance Center for 11 years. Ms. Fischer has been at the UB-SDM since 2014 serving as the Director of School-based Health programs and the Rural Dentistry Project. She has been instrumental in expanding the program over the last 9 years to include a second mobile dental van.

Ms. Fischer serves as the Chair of the New York State Oral Health Coalition and is the NY state representative for the Oral Health Progress and Equity Network (OPEN). She is the recipient of the Dr. Elmer Green Oral Public Health Award, Batavia City School Districts “You Make A Difference” Certificate of Appreciation and was recently highlighted by the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation’s campaign highlighting woman in leadership roles. She also contributed to the WellnessWNY supplement in Buffalo News, “Oral Care for All” June 2023.