Community service awards in ample supply for these students

April 25th, 2018
L to R: D3 Twain Henry; D3 Husnain Shahid, D2 Salma Haneef; D4 Deanna Ayyash; D4 Duaa Omar; Clinical Assistant Professor Dr. Amal Noureldin; D4 Jawairia Waheed; D3 Lina El-Kashef; D4 Zaki Razvi; and D3 Amjad Saleh.

L to R: D3 Twain Henry; D3 Husnain Shahid, D2 Salma Haneef; D4 Deanna Ayyash; D4 Duaa Omar; Clinical Assistant Professor Dr. Amal Noureldin; D4 Jawairia Waheed; D3 Lina El-Kashef; D4 Zaki Razvi; and D3 Amjad Saleh.

For third- and fourth-year dental students, free time is a rare commodity. Yet several Texas A&M College of Dentistry students volunteered at all five health fairs coordinated by the American Muslim Women Physicians Association in 2017.

They helped to serve more than 700 community members through these events, providing fluoride, sealants and exams. AMWPA members and other volunteers provide medical services such as diabetes and cholesterol screenings, bone density checks and more. On April 21, AMWPA leaders and even Irving Mayor Rick Stopfer recognized the following College of Dentistry students with the organization’s community service award during a dinner and ceremony at Hackberry Creek Country Club in Irving:

  • Zaki Razvi, D4;
  • Lina El-Kashef, D3;
  • Jawairia Waheed D4;
  • Duaa Omar, D4;
  • Deaana Ayyash, D4; and
  • Husnain Shahid, D3.

The number of students to receive this award has increased markedly, says Dr. Amal Noureldin, clinical assistant professor in public health sciences, who supervises them during the health fairs and also was recognized during the event. Last spring, El-Kashef, as well as Sammy Mahmoud, then a fourth-year dental student, received the community service award for volunteering at all of AMWPA’s 2016 metroplex health fairs.

— Jennifer Fuentes