Kathy Eklund felt a pull on her heartstrings when, during a ForsythKids school visit, she heard a first grader plead, “Please, please, help my mommy get my teeth fixed!”
Before she left the school, Eklund connected the child with a social worker and later followed up with a local community health center. She tried to reach the child’s family, but the phone was disconnected; the family faced an unstable housing situation.
With persistence, Eklund and the school ultimately answered the little girl’s cries for help by connecting her with Boston Children’s Hospital for dental care.
“What I learned from this experience is that you have to listen, and you’re part of a bigger picture of medical, dental, and behavioral interaction in these schools, where every little thing can really make a difference,” Eklund said. “It’s very humbling for us to realize that.”
It’s those stories that Eklund remembers when she reflects on the ForsythKids mission – moments when children gain access to the dental care they need to continue going to school pain-free.
Eklund, who has been part of ADA Forsyth since 1984, will lead the ForsythKids program as its director. An experienced dental hygienist, patient advocate, and oral health educator, she has been involved with the program since its beginning in 2003.
“The team is just wonderful,” Eklund said. “We have such a good group of dentists, hygienists, and assistants, and we’re very proud of what they do.”
Each year ForsythKids provide dental exams, education, and preventive care to children at about 7 sites, including schools, Head Start locations, or local community centers. Ultimately, ForsythKids aims to connect families to their “permanent dental home,” a dental provider in their community who offers preventive and restorative care, including community health centers.
Maintaining the connection with families and children who need dental care takes compassion, persistence, and collaboration with school nurses.
The ForsythKids program continues a century-long legacy at ADA Forsyth of providing oral health care for underserved individuals. In 1914, when the Forsyth Dental Infirmary for Children opened in the Fenway neighborhood of Boston, children lined up at its door for sorely needed dental care. ForsythKids is the modern rendition of a foundational mission.
Eklund looks forward to continuing to provide crucial outreach and education on the importance of oral health to underserved communities in Massachusetts.
“We’re really trying to facilitate understanding of the importance of oral health and its relationship to overall health,” Eklund said.
