Dentists named Unsung Heroes
Lynchburg News and Advance
Friday, March 17, 2006Two Lynchburg dentists who helped establish the dental program at the Free Clinic of Central Virginia are among the Virginia Health Care Foundation’s Unsung Heroes. Dr. Augustus Petticolas and Dr. William Riley were selected for their teamwork in creating the much-needed dental service for low-income adults who have no insurance or are underinsured. The dental clinic is in the Free Clinic at 1016 Main St., Lynchburg.
The award will be presented April 27 by Marilyn B. Tavenner, Virginia’s secretary of Health and Human Services, as part of the Heroes in Healthcare event sponsored by the nonprofit.
The dental clinic, which Petticolas helped found, was established in 1987-88. It opened with used equipment and a handful of volunteer dentists who staffed the clinic in the evenings after their workday was complete.
Three years ago, the clinic - now with three treatment rooms and up-to-date equipment - teamed up with the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry and its division of dental hygiene. Each year, fourth-year dental and dental hygiene students complete a clinical rotation through the Free Clinic. Area dentists - either in active practice or retired - supervise the students.
In December, the clinic received a $100,000 donation from Centra Health Foundation for new dental equipment. It still needs to raise about $110,000 to convert the downstairs area into a six-treatment room dental clinic. This would double the number of people served to about 4,000.
“It’s been an awesome journey,” said Petticolas, who said it’s “a little unsettling” to be called a hero.
“The whole Free Clinic is about teamwork,” he said. “We would not have made these strides without a huge team.”
It was Petticolas, Riley and executive director Bob Barlow who successfully approached the VCU School of Dentistry with the concept of a senior rotation through the Free Clinic.
The idea arose from discussion about the long wait for dental care at the Free Clinic, which was only seeing patients in the evening, said Riley.
If the VCU students could work during the day, said Riley, he felt that volunteer dentists could be found to supervise them. Students would get to add to their hands-on experience under the watchful eye of professionals, and the patients would be able to get dental care in a timely fashion.
VCU liked the idea and it has worked.
“I think everyone who works down there (at the clinic) should be considered an unsung hero,” said Riley.
In honor of the two Unsung Heroes, the Virginia Health Care Foundation will present a check for $2,000 to the Free Clinic of Central Virginia - which will be used to launch the fundraising campaign for the renovation.
The selection of Petticolas and Riley puts them into an elite group selected statewide by a panel that reviews many nominations.
Debbie Oswalt, executive director of the foundation, said the award goes to people who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.
They work hard and “not with any contemplation of recognition. These are really good people and care a lot.”
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