Dental School’s Joan Gluch promotes academics and community engagement
The Netter Center has recognized Gluch with the 2018 Faculty-Community Partnership Award along with one of her partners, Philadelphia FIGHT, a health services organization for people with or at high risk for HIV/AIDS
Joan Gluch, third from right, was the recipient of the 2018 Faculty-Community Partnership Award from the Netter Center. She was joined in the ceremony by previous winners Herman Beavers and Rich Pepino, faculty review committee chair Carol Ann Muller, Kari Hexem of Philadelphia FIGHT, and Netter Center Director Ira Harkavy. (Photo: Mark Garvin)
Gluch is associate dean for academic policies, and division chief and professor of clinical community oral health at Penn’s School of Dental Medicine. She and her students have worked with Philadelphia FIGHT, a health services organization for people living with or at high risk for HIV/AIDS, since 2003, providing comprehensive dental health services, oral health education, and community oral health assessments.
The award recognizes not only Gluch’s collaboration with Philadelphia FIGHT and a number of other community partners, but also her work on academically based community service (ABCS) courses at Penn. She has incorporated five ABCS courses, which combine academics and community experiences, into the dental school’s curriculum and accreditation process.
Gluch (right) shared the award with one of her main partners, Philadelphia FIGHT, a health services organization for people with or at an elevated risk for HIV/AIDS. The organization's Kari Hexem (left), a Penn Dental graduate, accepted the award. (Photo: Mark Garvin)
“The collaboration between Joan and her partners embodies the Netter Center’s efforts to integrate research, teaching, learning, and service in a meaningful and mutually impactful way,” says Ira Harkavy, director of the Netter Center. “Moreover, Joan’s work to effectively engage Penn Dental Medicine students in community oral health by embedding ABCS courses in the curriculum serves as an exemplar for Penn, as well as for dental schools and other professional schools across the country.”
Gluch has served as a leader of three distinct Penn Dental Medicine clinical outreach programs: PennSmiles, a mobile dental clinic consisting of two buses providing care for Philadelphia school children; the dental care program at LIFE for low-income elderly; and the dental program at the Dr. Bernett L. Johnson Jr. Sayre Health Center for low-income children and adults.
The faculty review committee recognized Gluch’s as an outstanding nomination.
“Joan Gluch was selected,” says Carol Muller, faculty committee chair and professor of music in the School of Arts and Sciences, “for her very significant contributions in education and for the real impact her leadership has had on facilitating dental care programs at many partners in the community. Professor Gluch is an exemplary leader of community engagement work at Penn.”
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