CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—The Cambridge-Yerevan Sister City Association (CYSCA) is proud to announce the establishment of a new Preventive Dentistry Program that has recently been approved and adopted into the curriculum at the Yerevan State Medical University’s Therapeutic and Family Dentistry Department. The public’s support of this project — Armenia’s first class of dental school graduates that are trained in preventive dentistry — will be critical to its success.

 

Residents of Armenia, a country with an ancient and rich cultural history, have long been without access to preventive dentistry. Over the past several years, CYSCA has been working with the University to institute a Preventive Dentistry – Dental Hygiene course in Yerevan. The course, which is the first of its kind in Armenia, begins in September, 2014, teaching both the theoretical and clinical components of the American dental hygiene program to dental students. Karina Matevosyan, MA, RDH, an accomplished and experienced clinician from Cambridge, Mass will be relocating to Yerevan for a 3-year term to spearhead this exciting program on CYSCA’s behalf. She has taught at dental clinics at the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene and Palm Beach State College in Florida.

Currently, there are 50 students enrolled in the course, and each student requires two sets of instruments to complete the practical component of their studies. In addition, upon graduating and joining the workforce, these students will require the instruments to begin practicing preventive dentistry in Armenia. The total cost of the necessary instruments for each student is $500.

Donors are needed to help procure instruments for deFntal students this fall. A donation in any amount will help to ensure that each student has the tools to complete his/her studies and begin the practice of preventive dentistry in Armenia. In addition, CYSCA will match up to 100% of each donation received through July 2014. CYSCA is grateful for your support of this groundbreaking program. Contributions are tax-deductible. Checks can be made out to “CYSCA.” Note in Memo: Dental Instruments Project. Please mail your check, preferably by July 20, 2014, to: CYSCA, P.O Box 382591, Cambridge, MA 02238

CYSCA, an award-winning sister city organisation, was founded in 1987 through the Cambridge Peace Commission. Over the past 27 years, CYSCA has been instrumental in fostering an exchange of ideas and competencies between the cities of Cambridge, Mass. and Yerevan, Armenia. Numerous professional, teacher and student exchange programs, as well as humanitarian aid projects, have made a huge impact on the lives of thousands. Visit www.cysca.org for further information.