For over 35 years, the UNAERP Dental School has been known for promoting humanistic education. This is evident through its alumni who are deeply engaged in the communities they live in, such as Michelle Alvarez Donati, who created the Kids Dental Care project to provide free dental services to Hispanic, Brazilian, and American children from low-income families in cities across the United States.

The initiative was launched with support from the If You Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Orlando. Motivated by the need to assist vulnerable families, Michelle, along with Fernanda Pontes, the founder of the organization, developed a dental care program for children aged 4 to 14.

Today, the program serves cities such as Winter Garden, Miami, Hunters Creek, and Pembroke Pines, with plans to expand to more areas. In addition to providing immediate dental care, the program also focuses on raising awareness among parents and guardians about the importance of preventive care, creating a lasting impact on the families it serves.

"We treat around 60 children per month. They receive consultations with a dentist, prophylaxis, fluoride treatments, panoramic X-rays, and at the end of the treatment, they receive a kit with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and other items. My commitment to my profession has always been immense, so doing this work feels like fulfilling a dream. We want to expand the program nationwide," says Michelle.

Journey – Michelle began studying Dentistry at UNAERP in 1998 and graduated in 2003. In 2015, she moved to the United States. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she became involved in social services and joined the If You Foundation.

Fuad Jacob Abi Rached Júnior, the coordinator of UNAERP’s Dental School, says that examples like Michelle’s bring pride to the institution. "For 38 years, our program has been training dentists with a broad understanding of the human, social, and ethical dimensions of oral health and patient well-being. It’s a great source of pride to see an alumna implementing social activities learned during her training at our university."

With information from The Brazilian Times and the alumna’s press office.