Dental Students and Faculty Give Kids a Smile

Written By Alicia Vial

LSU Health School of Dentistry invites Esparanza Academy in for free care

NEW ORLEANS –LSU Health School of Dentistry invited pre-K to fourth grade students from Esperanza Academy for Give Kids a Smile Day.  

Faculty, students and residents from the dental and dental hygiene programs teamed up to create a special day for the nearby school. Students dressed as dental characters welcomed the students off their buses, as dentists and hygienists prepared for education, screenings and sealants.  

“Today is our kickoff of Children's National Oral Health Month with the program Give Kids a Smile, where we have invited Esperanza Academy, a nearby elementary school, to participate in activities that promote oral health,” Dr. Sterling Roberts, local pediatric dentist and faculty member, said. “We’re teaching children appropriate oral hygiene habits, along with doing cursory dental examinations.” 

This year’s theme, “Your Smile Is Out of This World,” gave the entire building a space-age motif complete with space suits, planets and rockets. Students received screenings, educational programming, arts, crafts, activities and oral hygiene instruction.  
 
Second- and third-year dental students Harli Jacob and Ally Lutgring spearheaded this year’s effort, working with faculty, staff and residents to give every child a smile. Sponsors for this year’s event were the Academy of General Dentistry, ASDA’s New Orleans Chapter, Campus Federal Credit Union and The New Orleans Dental Association. 
 
Interim Chair of Pediatric Dentistry Dr. Karen Bruggers, said, “Access to affordable dental care for children continues to be a need. Events like this one highlight LSUSD’s commitment to addressing the oral healthcare needs of children in our community.”  
 
Give Kids a Smile Day launched nationally in 2003 as a way for dentists across the country to provide dental services to underserved children at no cost.  

# # # 

LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans (LSU Health New Orleans) educates Louisiana's health care professionals. The state's health sciences university leader, LSU Health New Orleans includes a School of Medicine with campuses in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, the state's only School of Dentistry, Louisiana's only public School of Public Health, and Schools of Allied Health Professions, Nursing, and Graduate Studies. LSU Health New Orleans faculty take care of patients in public and private hospitals and clinics throughout the region. In the vanguard of biosciences research, the LSU Health New Orleans research enterprise generates jobs and enormous annual economic impact. LSU Health New Orleans faculty have made lifesaving discoveries and continue to work to prevent, advance treatment or cure disease.  

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

Previous

Jefferson Island to Host Second Annual Kids & Clays Open
Next

Third Annual Early Ed Month Focuses on the Crucial Necessity for Strong Investments in High-Quality Early Care and Education