Gov. Quinn visits UIC College of Dentistry

CHICAGO: Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn pushed for a new oral health related initiative during his recent visit to the UIC College of Dentistry in Chicago.

Since 2003 Quinn, first as Lieutenant Governor and now as Governor, has come to the UIC College of Dentistry to participate in Give Kids a Smile Day, in which the children are given free care at the College's Department of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr Indru Punwani is Head of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry. During his visit, Quinn met children from St. Malachy's School who were at the College to receive free oral screenings and oral care education.

Niranjan Shah, Chair of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, welcomed the Governor to the Campus, saying that the Governor "has a long history of public service. He looks out for people who need the most help. Doing good work is like planting seeds. We don't always remember who planted them, but we always benefit when the plants come to fruition. Governor Quinn created the Citizens' Utility Board, and every person in Illinois is saving up to $500 in utility bills as a result," Shah added. He then made a request to the Governor to consider funding infrastructure improvements for the University.

Earlier, Dean Bruce Graham welcomed the dignitaries and media, noting that "Providing care for under served children is best achieved by partnerships-corporations, educational and other institutions, and government."

Governor Quinn spoke next, noting the State of Illinois needed to "rebuild its roads and bridges, and has to have university buildings that are top-notch." Of the College of Dentistry, he said "this school has wonderful faculty and a commitment to service, and its students have that ethic of service and want to serve their communities.

The Governor pushed for a new oral health initiative by noting that there is a box on the Illinois State Income Tax Return in which taxpayers can indicate their desire to make a voluntary contribution to "Healthy Smiles," and he urged people to check it off. He thanked Dr Punwani, Head of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, as well as the sponsor, the Colgate Bright Smiles-Bright Futures Program.

Dr Punwani thanked Governor Quinn and College alumnus and State Representative David Miller, for creating the law that made dental examinations mandatory for school children, and then urged even earlier care. "Half of children entering kindergarten have dental disease," Dr Punwani said. "A child should be seen no later than his or her first birthday; at that age, you can prevent disease altogether. A law requiring that is the next thing we need."

Later Governor Quinn visited the St. Malachy's children in the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic.