FACULTYPERSPECTIVE

VIEWS ON DENTAL TOPICS & TRENDS

Contributed by Dr. Kenneth Kent, Philly Phaces Faculty Advisor,

pictured with Ashten Nguyen (D’23), a Philly Phaces at Penn Dental Medicine Vice President

Philly Phaces at Penn Dental Medicine

Penn Dental Medicine provides outstanding forums for our students to express themselves, fostering social interaction and community service and promoting personal and professional development. A wide diversity of student organizations and student chapters of professional organizations help Penn Dental Medicine students expand their horizons beyond the classrooms, laboratories, and clinics. I have had the pleasure of serving as a faculty advisor and mentor for a number of these groups, including Philly Phaces at Penn Dental Medicine, a group launched by students in 2018 to support the local nonprofit Philly Phaces, which provides peer support, advocacy, and resources for those with facial anomalies.

Philly Phaces at Penn Dental Medicine is a group of students committed to increasing their social awareness and learning about individuals with craniofacial abnormalities and their families. Activities have included developing a student selective, engaging over 100 students who viewed and discussed films and attended seminars with invited medical and dental specialists. Topics discussed include: • Emotions and questions parents experience when their child is born with a congenital facial abnormality, including issues related to health concerns, social obstacles, and emotional impact. • How as dentists we can care for and provide guidance for children and their families. • Strategies to manage bullying that often happens to children with facial differences. Students participating in Philly Phaces become part of the professional community of support able to answer these monumental questions and concerns, understanding the importance of having access to the resources necessary to ensure all children experience the best that life has to offer. Our students work with Philly Phaces members and their families as Penn Pals and contribute to a Philly Phaces Blog on topics that range from facial anomalies to how to become a dental student and dental specialist. A key event of our Philly Phaces group has been an annual Philly Phaces Photo Gallery featuring portraits and personal stories of individuals with facial differences, their families, and medical professionals. It is designed to educate the community to the unique challenges faced by children born with craniofacial differences. Each child’s journey is unique, and not only requires medical treatment, but very often, social components. During the gallery show, guest medical specialists and patients with facial differences and their families discuss their personal journeys.

It is a great gathering for everyone involved. Through Philly Phaces, it is an honor to contribute to our ongoing legacy of training superb, compassionate caregivers.

Paying it Forward

Stephen Len is the Co-Founder and President of Philly Phaces and a parent who has been personally impacted by the life-changing work being performed everyday by the surgical and mental health professionals in the Philadelphia area, as well as the efforts of our Penn Dental Medicine students. Philly Phaces (www.phillyphaces.org) is a grassroots, nonprofit community of volunteers made up of parents, health professionals, and young adults with congenital facial abnormalities. The community of Philly Phaces is devoted to paying it forward, striving to empower the children, adults, and families facing appearance differences in the city of “Brotherly Love” by providing structured peer support, advocacy, and resources to those in need. As a parent, Len appreciates all those dedicated and passionate about bringing to bear their experiences and resources to help children and their families navigate the medical, social, and psychological issues associated with appearance differences and with the Philly Phaces organization has donated funds to establish a Philly Phaces Scholarship for Penn Dental Medicine students. The first award will be made in 2022 in conjunction with the School’s commencement festivities. "Philly Phaces is so grateful for the interest and efforts of the Penn Dental Philly Phaces Club and proudly funds a scholarship to show our gratitude,” says Len. For more information on the scholarship or how to support the group, contact Elizabeth Ketterlinus, Vice Dean for Institutional Advancement, ekett@upenn.edu.