Bulletin of Dental Education Article

Students and faculty from the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry (Dugoni School) recently demonstrated their deep commitment to community care by volunteering at two major public health events held over one weekend in Northern California: the Chinatown Community Health Fair and California CareForce Three-day Free Health Care Clinic.

Chinatown Community Health Fair

Volunteers served the public at the 30th Annual Chinatown Community Health Fair on October 11 at the Chinatown YMCA in San Francisco, CA. This annual event is a crucial opportunity to reach people who lack dental insurance and to raise awareness about the importance of regular dental care. Participation in the event was organized by the dental school’s Student Community Outreach for Public Education (SCOPE) program, a student group dedicated to improving public health.

SCOPE volunteers at the 30th Annual Chinatown Community Health Fair

The Dugoni School volunteers were joined by students from the University of California, San Francisco, and the University of California, Berkeley. The volunteers worked together to provide dental screenings for both children and adults. Attendees received a free dental health kit (toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, etc.) and oral health education. In some cases, treatment was offered. Mandarin and Cantonese translators were also on hand to help answer questions about proper dental care.

Zhenni Zhang, a second-year dental student, reflected on the event, saying, “Volunteering at the Chinatown event really showed me how people from all over can come together to help others. Students and volunteers from different neighborhoods and backgrounds worked side by side, sharing their time and energy to make a difference. It felt great to see everyone teaming up, proving that when we join forces, we can provide much better care and support for the community.”

“It was truly an eye-opening and impactful experience, especially as I met attendees who had avoided the dentist for years due to fear or uncertainty and some who had never been able to express their concerns in their own language. We were able to connect with the community in a way that felt safe and personal. This health fair offered attendees reassurance, confidence and an opportunity to take real steps toward their health,” said volunteer Amanda Lee, a second-year dental student.

“Witnessing their relief and gratitude was a powerful reminder of how meaningful access, care and understanding can be,” she added. “It also deepened my appreciation for how much trust and empathy shape the patient experience, showing that dentistry goes far beyond clinical skills.”

Established at the Dugoni School in the 1990s, SCOPE’s mission is to develop dental professionals committed to improving the health of all people. Student members of SCOPE volunteer at a variety of events throughout the academic year.

The annual Chinatown Community Health Fair is organized by the NICOS Chinese Health Coalition and Gum Moon/Asian Women's Resource Center (AWRC). NICOS stands for the program’s five founding health care organization members: North East Medical Services, Independent Practitioners Association (today known as Chinese Community Health Care Association), Chinese Hospital, On Lok Lifeways and Self-Help for the Elderly. This event convenes more than 30 health and human services organizations and mobilizes nearly 100 volunteers to offer a wide range of health care services for the public.

California CareForce Three-day Free Health Care Clinic

Twenty-eight Dugoni School students and four faculty members from the San Francisco and Sacramento campuses volunteered at the Sacramento Valley Clinic organized by California CareForce and held at Cal Expo over the weekend of Oct. 10­-12. The goal was to treat patients with varying needs including fillings, extractions, cleanings, radiographs and dentures.

California CareForce is the philanthropic arm of the California Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, consisting of volunteer health care professionals, community leaders and engaged citizens.

The organization promotes the health and well-being of those in need through volunteer-supported, no-cost health care clinics throughout California. Free pop-up clinics are organized to provide access to basic and critical dental, vision and medical care. California CareForce is 100% funded by donations, grants, foundations and sponsorships.

Courtesy of Dan Soine, M.B.A., Associate Dean of Marketing and Communications, University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry

Published on November 12, 2025