Pictured from left: Denny Sanders, Steve Chambers, Salem-Keizer School Board Chairperson and Dr. Richard Synowski.

This month we would like to honor Retired dentist Dr. Richard Synowski as our business/community partner of the month. Joining Dr. Synowski is Denny Sanders from Medical Team International. Denny is the dental van manager and operator.

Dr. Synowski is committed to serving our district's low-income, uninsured students experiencing dental pain. Dr. Synowski has provided necessary fillings and/or extractions to 83 of our district's students. He has volunteered nine full days totaling nearly 50 hours this year on the Medical Team International Dental Van taking care of students at our schools.

Dr. Synowski has volunteered with Medical Team International for over 7 years. He has donated his services in countries around the world, including Israel, China, Mongolia, Poland, México, Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize.

Currently, there are ten active MTI Dental Vans in Oregon and Washington. During this school year, MTI's Salem area dental van provided 28 clinics at Salem-Keizer schools, for which local dentists took turns volunteering their services. These clinics have provided necessary fillings and extractions to 278 of our students, totaling over $96,000 in donated services.

If it were not for Dr. Synowski's outstanding dedication, fewer of our district's students free of dental pain that so often interferes with their overall health and their ability to perform in school!

Thank you and Medical Team International for your service to the students of Salem-Keizer Public Schools!