A major gift from a University
of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine (Penn Dental Medicine) alumnus is helping to advance pediatric
dentistry education and patient care. With this contribution from class of 1995
graduate Tony Saito, D.M.D., the school will name its pediatric clinic the
Saito Pediatric Care Center.
“Dr. Saito’s commitment to our school, our
students, and the patients we serve is tremendous,” says Mark Wolff, D.D.S.,
Ph.D., Morton Amsterdam Dean. “His support and engagement are invaluable.”
A pediatric dentist, Dr. Saito owns a private
practice based in West Boylston, MA, which he opened in 2001. After earning his
D.M.D. from Penn Dental Medicine in 1995, Dr. Saito completed a general
practice residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center and went on to a pediatric
residency at Columbia University Medical Center.
“I chose to make this gift to support the
future of our rapidly evolving profession. Our students under the guidance of
our outstanding Penn faculty need the most advanced technology in order to
provide the best care for the children in the Philadelphia community,” says Dr.
Saito. “It is my hope to have the students that I have mentored return to Penn
Dental and give back their time and energy as I have given to them."
Since 2017, Dr. Saito has been an active
member of the Dean’s Council at Penn Dental Medicine, an external advisory
group to the Dean. In addition, he lectures annually to both dental and advanced
dental education students in the pediatric program at Penn Dental Medicine.
“Our students benefit greatly from the Dr.
Saito’s perspective as a practicing pediatric dentist,” notes Betty
Hajishengallis, D.M.D., D.D.S., M.Sc., Ph.D., Chief of Penn Dental Medicine’s
Division of Pediatric Dentistry and Director of the Postdoctoral Pediatric Program.
“His willingness to come back to the school on a regular basis to share his
experiences and serve as a mentor can have a great impact as students look to enter
the specialty.”
The space to be named the Saito Pediatric Care
Center is the 16-chair teaching clinic for the school’s pediatric program,
where advanced dental education and dental students provide care to children of
all ages. The care center includes 10 private operatories and an open bay area
with six treatment areas.
The section with the private operatories and
the waiting area underwent a renovation in early 2019 to enhance the clinical
care and patient experience. All 10 operatories have been outfitted with new
equipment, including new dental chairs with rear-delivery instruments, new
radiology units, and new cabinetry. One of the most significant changes was the
creation of an operatory designed to accommodate patients who use wheelchairs.
Now outfitted with a lift, patients can be easily treated without having to
leave their wheelchairs.
“This generous support from Dr. Saito will
allow us to continue to strengthen our clinical care resources, and in turn,
our service to the community,” adds Dr. Wolff. “We couldn’t be more
appreciative of his shared commitment to our mission.”
A celebration of the official naming of the
Saito Pediatric Care Center will take place as part of the school’s Alumni
Weekend 2020 when Dr. Saito will be marking the 25th anniversary of his
graduation from Penn Dental Medicine.
Courtesy of Beth Adams, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental
Medicine
Published on Oct. 9, 2019