Colleen Greene, DMD, MPH (Milwaukee) didn’t have a regular dental home when she was growing up because her family was insured through Medicaid, which meant their provider options were limited. “It was very difficult for my mom to establish care with any one office,” Dr. Greene said. “Thankfully, we never experienced problems because my mom was able to piecemeal together sufficient preventive and restorative care.”
Now section chief of Dentistry at Children’s Wisconsin and WDA member, Dr. Greene has made it her mission to care for kids whose needs sometimes go unmet. “I became most interested in serving families like mine,” she said. “And the Children’s Wisconsin Dental Program is the best place to do that.”
At Children’s Wisconsin, patients span from newborns to adults with special needs. The program’s four locations are designed with a wide spectrum of patients in mind. “We can position our rooms to accommodate wheelchairs or patient care equipment, and we also have spaces that can protect patients who are immunocompromised,” Dr. Greene explained.
Not surprisingly, appointments with the Children’s Wisconsin Dental Program are in high demand. To meet the immense need, Children’s Wisconsin is working to redesign and expand its dental program on the Milwaukee campus, which will allow it to see 4,000 more patient visits every year. In June 2022, the Delta Dental of Wisconsin Foundation committed $1 million to support the expansion, including a $500,000 dollar-for-dollar matching opportunity — the Healthy Smiles Healthy Kids Challenge. To receive the matching funds from Delta Dental, Children’s Wisconsin must raise $500,000 before Dec. 31, 2022.
“Efforts like the Healthy Smiles Healthy Kids Challenge to expand our space are critical,” Dr. Greene said. “We will not be able to otherwise meaningfully impact our wait list without more space.”
The facility improvements will also make it possible to expand the Children’s Wisconsin Craniofacial Orthodontic Program, as well as provide additional space for pediatric and special care dentistry training for Marquette University dental students, Children’s Wisconsin pediatric dental residents and other practicing professionals. “Ultimately, to be a great provider for people with special health care needs, you need hands-on experience to help patients reach their own potential,” Dr. Greene added.
You can help us increase access for our most vulnerable patients by making a gift to the Healthy Smiles Healthy Kids Challenge. Donate online or contact Development Director Paula Hocking at [email protected] or (414) 226-7225. Read more about Dr. Greene in the November/December issue of the WDA Journal.
