Healthy Mouth Healthy Body Newsletter – April/May 2015

April / May 2015

Dear Friends and Colleagues of Healthy Mouth Healthy Body 2020,

The time has come for TEAM HMHB 2020 to take a breath and reflect on all we have accomplished thus far in our goal to raise the health and awareness of 20,000 people on the Peninsula by year 2020 by elevating awareness of the dramatic impact of oral diseases on total body disease.

We have had a wide variety of fun and exciting opportunities to spread our message since January, including a plethora of weekly sharing meetings, hospital, university, church and community outreach presentations, as well as music events that have allowed us to expand our reach. Our efforts this first half of the year culminated in our dynamic event at Mary Immaculate Hospital, April 26. Not only did we have a formal presentation on the mouth/body connection, we had three patients graciously share their compelling stories of how they personally experienced the impact of oral disease on their bodies.

Thanks to all for your gracious and generous support of time and talent as we jettison forward on our journey towards a healthier community!

 

Always my warmest and my best,

Lisa Marie Samaha, DDS, FAGD
Founder and Director Healthy Mouth Healthy Body 2020

2020 Music Fest
Entertainment Thank Yous. . .

. . . to all of the amazingly talented artists who filled the air with beautiful music, positive energy, generous support and graceful love. Be sure to check out their Facebook pages.  Follow and support our hometown stars!   Click here and then on their name(s) to get to their page.

2020 Music Fest
Support

I would also like to thank my dear friend and colleague, HMHB Chair, Dr. Lois Benjamin, Professor Emeritus of Hampton University and her wonderful committee for their support of this event.  I also want to thank the members of my office team and friends and colleagues for their great work with set-up, clean-up, sign-ins, surveys, donations and logistics – not to mention their warm greetings!

Say Ahh…2020 Kick-Off Event
Success!

We premiered the powerful and professionally produced movie, “Say Ahh…” which shared medical evidence on the oral/systemic connection from the mouths of leading researchers around the country, while it traced the lives of six families that were deeply affected by oral disease.

A bit of fun was interjected as our own Hampton University pre-dental graduate student, Seth Rogers performed “No Mo’ Yo Yo Perio”, my own rap song, for the very first time ever!  Seth allowed us to enjoy the best elements of laughter and learning! We appreciate all of our 20+ HU volunteers and especially congratulate Seth for a wonderful front-and-center rap!

“Say Ahh. . .”
The Movie

We will be having encore screenings of the one hour movie, “Say Ahh. . .” at Port Warwick Dental Arts in the coming months.  If you missed it at the Kick-Off event, or would like to see it again, give us a call at 757-223-9270 or send an email to let us know you’d like to attend a private screening.

And there’s more. . .
We’ve been busy.

Even after the busyness of the first few months, we haven’t stopped. We have more momentum than ever! We have presented information to hundreds of medical professionals and others at local hospitals as well as Hampton University’s and Riverside Hospital’s Stroke Awareness Days. We have shared on a wide variety of topics to community, civic and church groups, as well.  The feedback from medical professionals was especially satisfying, as their awareness of the connection rose to a deeper level as a result of our efforts.

Your Support
Is appreciated!

We have much in motion for the coming months and for the remainder of the year ahead. Funding and development of our initiative into a non-profit are on the immediate horizon. All efforts are focused in that direction and any support – from ideas to financial donations – is appreciated.

Please email Dr Lois Benjamin or me with your thoughts. Please like us on Facebook and visit our website for more information. 

Contact
2020 Healthy Mouth Healthy Body Initiative
251 Nat Turner Blvd., Newport News, VA 23606
757-223-9270
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