Word of Mouth
Because Every Child Deserves Healthy Teeth Spring 2011
In this Issue A Message from the CEO
A Toothache for our Children’s Dental Services
Results
Can you imagine a four-year-old girl who is embarrassed to
smile?
Or a little boy whose mouth has become so infected with
bacterial decay that his left eye is swollen shut?
At PDI, our staff see children suffering like this every day.
A full 28 percent of elementary school children have
untreated tooth decay and 4 percent need urgent dental care
due to pain or infection. Children suffering from severe tooth Bill Hawn, Board Chair
& Viveka Rydell, CEO
decay live in pain every day without access to adequate dental
Case Management care. In many cases, their teeth have hurt for so long, the pain
becomes a part of everyday life.
Because of the pain, chewing is difficult and the child may not be getting the nutrition
they need for proper growth. Left untreated, bacteria in the mouth from decay can enter
the bloodstream and become life-threatening. Tooth decay also affects a child’s social and
educational development. Intense pain and rotting teeth make children withdrawn and
prevents them from focusing on school.
Since opening in January 2008, the PDI Surgery Center has ended the pain in more than
4,800 children and provided parents with local resources for regular dental screenings.
Volunteers But after three years of treating children, PDI, like many other health services and
organizations, are under attack. The latest California budget is threatening to cut
reimbursements for dental and medical services by ten percent. We can’t stand by and let
the children in our community suffer from toothaches.
Let’s work together to collaborate with our community’s organizations to meet the
challenges faced by health care providers to provide access to oral health services.
Thank you for helping us make kids smile, because every child deserves healthy teeth.
Sincerely,
PDI Updates
Viveka Rydell, CEO
Mission: To maintain a sustainable dentistry resource that will serve the low
income children of Northern California who need safe sedation for dental
treatment, and to provide prevention education and promote oral health.
Smiles All Around Northern California
PDI Surgery Center, located in Windsor, provides dental surgery under general anesthesia to children suffering from
extensive tooth decay. Most of the children treated at PDI are under the age of seven and have more than eight
cavities. Tooth decay is the number one epidemic plaguing children in the United States, more prevalent than asthma,
diabetes or obesity. When PDI opened in 2008, more than 400 children were on the waiting list to be treated.
Our two-operating room facility has allowed PDI to treat more than 4,800 children from the North Bay and beyond,
encompassing 26 Northern California counties. PDI is the first nonprofit dental surgery center in Northern California
to specialize in dental treatment under general anesthesia for young children experiencing severe tooth decay.
A healthy life of a child starts with a healthy, pain-free childhood.
Total Treated: 4,840
Sonoma: 2,269 Siskiyou: 2
Mendocino: 1,029 Trinity: 2
Lake: 521 Santa Cruz: 2
Napa: 581 Alameda: 1
Marin: 188 Butte: 1
Humboldt: 142 Modoc: 1
Shasta: 33 Plumas: 1
Del Norte: 39 San Joaquin: 1
Solano: 11 Merced: 1
Yolo: 3 Colusa: 1
Sacramento: 3 San Mateo: 1
Tehama: 3 Contra Costa: 1
Santa Clara: 3 San Bernardino: 1
Counties
served by
PDI
Case Managers’ Corner
PDI Surgery Center’s two bilingual Case Managers, Wendy Lopez and
Sandra Uribe, help patients access care, manage referrals, set appointments
and maintain our Patient Sponsorship Program. Both are involved with
community centers and Spanish radio and television stations to raise
awareness about PDI’s unique services. Wendy and Sandra are PDI’s first
line of communication between health providers and families.
Champion of Children’s
Our case managers receive more than twenty referrals every day from Oral Health:
community clinics and dental offices throughout Northern California. Veronika Sumbera
When children are referred to PDI, Sandra and Wendy contact the parents Veronika came to PDI in 2010 after meeting
to inform them about steps to take before their appointment. If a child case manager Sandra Uribe. Ms. Sumbera is
is uninsured, their status as Certified Application Assistants (CAAs) allow a licensed dentist in Italy, Spain and Mexico.
them to teach parents how to apply for Medi-Cal and Denti-Cal, Healthy As PDI’s newest board member, Veronika is
Families, or other programs geared towards helping low-income families focused on disease prevention and parent
receive health coverage. education. Using a holistic approach, she
includes instruction in nutrition, lifestyle, and
Both Sandra and Wendy work with schools, shelters and community centers
good oral hygiene.
to organize dental screenings and attend health fairs to promote oral health
to the community. “It’s important to teach parents that they can
be in control of their children’s health, to tell
Below are photos from community events:
them that tooth decay is preventable and oral
health has a strong relationship with overall
health. After all, the word ‘doctor’ is derived
from the Latin word ‘teacher’ and I really love
to teach people how to prevent illness by
promoting health throughout life and moving
patients’ minds from the ‘repair model’ to the
‘wellness model’,” explains Veronika.
In addition to volunteering her time at the
Surgery Center, Veronika also promotes oral
health and education for PDI at public outreach
events and on local Spanish radio. She also
appeared in PDI’s Making a Difference segment
on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams in
August 2010. As a tireless champion for oral
health, Veronika currently teaches health classes
in Napa schools and at the Community Center
in St. Helena.
Veronika speaks English, Spanish and Italian and
her multicultural background helps her connect
with families. “It is disease prevention and
education that I like most,” said Veronika, “I
hope that we can help the children in our
community lead healthier lives by making
them understand that healthy food is our best
medicine.”
Wendy Lopez, Case Manager
and Outreach Coordinator Sandra Uribe, Case Manager
Tooth Fairies Among Us:
Volunteer Spotlight
Volunteer Coordinator: Our Dedicated PDI Volunteers
Kerri Freschet
PDI would like to thank a very dedicated PDI relies on its volunteers to provide
volunteer, Kerri Freschet. Since August more efficient services at the surgery
2008, she has dedicated countless hours center and to effectively reach more
to help organize fund raisers and special children at community events. PDI
events; recruit, train and coordinate recruits dedicated volunteers from local
volunteers; and oversee all the clerical schools, businesses and individuals to
tasks at the surgery center. assist with clerical tasks at the surgery
center and at special events.
Kerri Freschet,
She oversees more than 15 volunteers. Volunteer Coordinator
Her initiative, expertise and Volunteering is a great way for individuals
resourcefulness are an essential part of “I have never seen a more to give back to the community and gain
PDI’s volunteer operations and PDI is dedicated volunteer that is as technical skills and experience working
blessed to have Kerri as our knowledgeable professional and dependable in the healthcare field. In 2010, PDI’s
Volunteer Coordinator. than Kerri- not to speak of student volunteers came from Maria
the hours she puts in at home Carillo High School, Sonoma Academy and
Additionally, Kerri hosts and coordinates as well. PDI is very fortunate Cardinal Newman High School in Santa
volunteer days at PDI and works with to have her.” - Joanna H, Rosa, Windsor High School, Sonoma State
United Way of the Wine Country to University and Santa Rosa Junior College.
volunteer since 2008
prepare for Day of Caring.
This year, PDI is collaborating with
She also helps manages the planning for Windsor High School in their
PDI’s silent auction during the annual Make WorkAbility1 program, a California
Kids Smile Awards in October. Kerri not Transition Program for students with
only seeks out donations, but works late disabilities.
into the night putting together auction
packages, setting up for the event and PDI is also entering its third year of
overseeing logistics for the silent auction collaboration with the Santa Rosa Junior
all while coordinating the efforts of more College Dental Hygiene Program.
than twenty volunteers. Students learn firsthand what tooth decay
looks like and observe children being
“Kerri is an invaluable asset to PDI,” said treated at PDI.
Julie Tucker, RN and PDI Administrator.
“She puts other people first and is always
willing to go the extra mile to help. We
Make SoMeone SMile! Our goal is to raise awareness among
B e a P a r t o f Yo u r young dental health care professionals
really enjoy working with her and value
CoMMunitY about the seriousness of the tooth decay
the time and effort she devotes to helping
epidemic.
children in need.” &
Vo l u n t e e r t o d a Y !
PDI is truly grateful for the support of
On February 23, 2011, Kerri was honored
by Sonoma County Oral Health Access
ContaCt Pdi at our volunteers and we encourage you
Coalition (SCOHAC) at the Children’s
707-838-6560 to get out in the community and make a
difference!
Oral Health Celebration in Santa Rosa for
her dedication to helping children in the
community! Congratulations! Thank you!
Your Six Month Check-Up
Give Kids a Smile Day - February 4th and 5th
Hosted by Sonoma County Oral Health Coalition,
Community Action Partnership Sonoma and the Redwood
Empire Dental Society, and in partnership with community
businesses and local dentists, Give Kids a Smile Day is held
each year on the first Friday and Saturday in February.
Dentists provide free oral health care services giving
children who do not have a dental home a chance to
receive a teeth cleaning and X-rays. PDI was there Grants
taking referrals for the children that had extensive tooth
decay and need further treatment. In order to treat and prevent tooth
decay, PDI relies on a combination of
insurance reimbursements, private
Upcoming Fund Raisers donations, and grants to provide
Human Race May 7, 2011 Northern California children with
Take a walk with Snappy and friends in May at the Human cost-effective dental treatment and
Race while helping PDI raise funds for the surgery prevention education.
center. Who can beat a Saturday morning walk with
10,000 of your Sonoma County neighbors! Visit us at the Grants and donations help us
PDI table in the Marketplace at Herbert Slater Middle purchase medical equipment and oral
School. The Human Race is a nationwide community health supplies such as toothbrushes,
fundraising event for nonprofit organizations and is the toothpaste, brushing timers and
largest collaborative fundraising event in Sonoma County as well as the largest floss. They also help us maintain our
Human Race in the nation! Patient Sponsorship Program, which
For more information on helping us fund raise for direct services, please call provides transportation assistance to
Ming Chan at 707-838-6560 or visit: www.volunteernow.org.
low-income families who live far away.
Schulz Celebrity Golf Classic May 16, 2011
Below are the 2010 grants that
Mayacama Golf Club is home of the Schulz
helped support PDI’s mission to give
Celebrity Golf Classic. The Schulz is a golf,
children healthy smiles.
dinner, wine, and social event, focused on
providing charitable support for children’s
organizations throughout Sonoma County. • First 5 Napa County
Sponsors and celebrities challenge the course, and then gather at the Schulz • Healthy Smiles Healthy Children
Museum for private tours and a dinner featuring the superb and famous Access to Care
Sonoma County Wine Country cuisine. PDI Surgery Center is a beneficiary of
• Kaiser Permanente Marin &
this entertaining golf tournament.
Sonoma Community Benefit Grant
For tickets or more information please visit: www.scccharities.com.
• Marin Community Foundation
Make Kids Smile Award Dinner October 13, 2011 • Napa Valley Community Foundation
2011 will bring a new format to our fifth annual • Sonoma Paradiso Foundation
Make Kids Smile Award Dinner! French Garden Restaurant,
owned by Dan Smith and Joan Marler-Smith, along with
Thank You!
Chef Patrick Quillec will host a wonderful evening event
full of farm-fresh and local cuisine perfectly paired with
delicious wine. Stay tuned for more information - Join us
on Facebook and follow PediatricDental on Twitter!
3rd Anniversary Open House
Celebration and Reception
Board of Directors
It was a celebration fit for a three year old: cake,
Thomas Cleland, DDS
apple juice, our mascot Snappy and balloons (don’t
Connie Codding
worry, we made sure to brush!) PDI Surgery
Max Dunn
Center celebrated its third year on January 25,
Kathy Foster, MD
2011. We were joined by more than 70 community
Bill Hawn
members who had the opportunity to tour our
Tom Jordan
surgery center and meet our staff. Mike McGuire,
Anne Molgaard, Esq
Northern Sonoma County’s 4th Supervisor
Ross Stromberg, Esq
presented PDI Surgery Center with a resolution from the Board of Supervisors.
Suzie Shupe, Esq
Guests also heard from Kathy Foster, MD, vice-chair and founding member, Viveka
Veronika Sumbera
Rydell, CEO and Julie Tucker, RN CPN, Administrator. Additionally, PDI was
Advisory Board recognized by Assemblyman Wes Chesbro for our work in children’s oral health.
Joel Berryhill, DDS
Brad Bollinger PDI thanks the community for the support it has given us. We can’t do it without
Marta Fuller you! Special thank you to Pizzeria DePaoli, Sandy Miller Photography,
Michael Kasper The Village Bakery, and Kerri Freschet.
Doug Lewis, DDS
Bret Martin
Susan Moore
Evan Rayner
Jeff Simmons
Henry Wendt, III
Jim Wood, DDS
Administrative Staff
Chief Executive Officer Kristen Johnson, MD, Kathy Foster, MD,
Viveka Rydell Mark Hagele, DDS, & Viveka Rydell
Nurse Director, Administrator
Julie Tucker, RN, CPN
Medical Director
Kristen Johnson, MD Supervisor Mike McGuire, Bill Hawn,
Snappy and Viveka Rydell
Dental Director
Mark Hagele, DDS
Case Managers Rael Bernstein, DDS, Smiles for a
Wendy Lopez Lifetime, and Cheryl MacDonald,
Redwood Empire Dental Society
Sandra Uribe
Communications Manager
Sara Randall
Billers
Charla Balkin
Toni Street
Receptionists
Rosa Bernal Kristen Johnson, MD, Wendy Lopez, and
Mark Escajeda, MD
Nazareli Parra Maria Thomas, Carmen Van Horn, both CAP
Sonoma, Snappy, Sandra Uribe &
Fabiola Espinoza, Latino Service Providers
Photos by Sandy Miller
Make Kids Smile Luncheon
Medical Staff
What a wonderful success our Make Kids Smile Luncheon Medical Anesthesiologists
was! While honoring Peggy Furth and the Sonoma Paradiso Mark Escajeda, MD
Foundation (accepting on behalf of SPF was Barbara Banke) Mona Goldfine, MD
for their wonderful work as champions for children’s Eric Hodes, MD
health, PDI Surgery Center raised more than $65,000 for Patrick Kwan, MD
two new anesthesia monitors and direct dental services to Kristen Johnson, MD
children in Northern California who need treatment for Steve Marlowe, MD
severe tooth decay. Mike Mundell, MD
John Nimtz, MD
Thank you to our table sponsors: The Codding Foundation,
James Pak, MD
The California Endowment, Victor Trione, Henry Trione, Kaiser Permanente,
Bill Rhoads, MD
St. Joseph Health System, Sutter Health, Exchange Bank, the Airport Business Richard Rowe, MD
Center, Kristen Johnson, MD, and Jan and Brent Stanley. Thank you to our Ken Zuckerman, MD
in-kind donors. Please see full list at www.pedidental.org.
Dentists
Neidre Banakus, DDS
Christopher Ezzat, DDS
Rosemarie Goldstein, DDS
Mark Hagele, DDS
Ellen Mark, DDS
Gary Nelson, DDS
David Okuji, DDS
Levi Palmer, DDS
Barbara Dixon, Emcee Marcy Smothers, Tanvi Shah, DDS
Bill Hawn, Gillian Stromberg,
& Board Member Ross Stromberg Registered Nurses
Honorees Peggy Furth & Barbara Banke,
on behalf of Sonoma Paradiso Foundation Punam Aery, RN
Sandi Anderson, RN
Angela Coffman, RN
Diane Cowen, RN
Linda Kerse, RN
Andrew O’Brien, RN
Jessica Ramirez, RN
Julie Tucker, RN, CPN, Kathy Foster, MD, Valorie Rockwell-Ripple, RN
Viveka Rydell, CEO & Bill Hawn Gail Simons, RN
Registered Dental Assistants
Rick Ventura, Healthcare Foundation, Northern Shauna Borruso, RDA
Sonoma County, Gus Wolter, Exchange Bank,
Supervisor Mike McGuire & Mark Decker, Elizabeth Norton, RDA
Exchange Bank Jessica Chavez, RDA
Michele Domenichelli, RDA
Rhonda Oceguera, RDA
Cynthia Wright, RDA
Tooth Fairy Meesha & Dina McCarthy,
Sandra Uribe, Case Manager Bernstein Orthodontics, who won the
E.R. Sawyer Jewelers necklace
Photos by Melinda Hughes Photography
1380 19 t h h o l e D r i v e
W i n D s o r , C A 95492
707-838-6560 Phone
707-838-8464 Fax
Events and Dates You’ll be Interested in...
Volunteer Appreciation Week - April 10 - 16
National Nurses Week - May 6 - 12
May 7 - Human Race
May 16 - Schulz Golf Classic
September 14 - Day of Caring
October 13 - Make Kids Smile Award Dinner
We’re Social! Are you?
Join us online
www.facebook.com/pdisurgerycenter
www.facebook.com/snappychompers Wear Your PDI Green
www.twitter.com/pediatricdental and Join us May 7th i n t h e
Country’s Largest Collaborative
Fund Raiser!
Contact Ming @ 707-838-6560