Saturday, December 20, 2008

Holiday Party


A sagging economy is no reason not to celebrate the amazing volunteer professionals and accomplishments of the past year. Executive Director Fred Bauermeister hosted a Holiday gathering at Senor Gomez's in Simi Valley last Thursday night. About fifty people attended representing all four of the Clinic service areas. Among the guest was Ted O'Connell from Kaiser Woodland Hills who is the head of the residency program.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

2008 Gala Open House







Last night was our First Annual Gala Open House. Well over 100 people were in attendance including May Paul Miller and his wife Connie. There was great food provided by Finery Catering and music provided by New Motif. Then event, which was open to the public, featured tours of the Clinic programs and services and an opportunity to financially support the Clinic by sponsoring a room in either of our two sites or sponsor supplies the clinic purchases. The weather was perfect and the attendees and corporate sponsors generously demonstrated their support which led to a very successful first time event.


Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Write 4 Hope




You may recall that last year an organization called Write 4 Hope sponsored a Blues Festival out at Oak Park. A portion of the proceeds from the event were designated for the Free Clinic. Tonight a gentleman from Write 4 Hope dropped off a check for $1,200.

Yea!

Monday, October 27, 2008

Make a Difference Day 2008













Saturday was Make A Difference Day at both of our Clinic locations. 60 people were seen at each site. At the Tapo Street site our medical staff offered people flu shots, blood screening tests and our counseling staff distributed information on parenting. At our Dental clinic children received exams by dentists and teeth cleanings from dental hygienists. We even had the mobile dental clinic there to provide an additional two opratories making a total of seven.



Monday, October 6, 2008

News Update





Much going on around the Free Clinic recently. In September we received a donation of panaflex x-ray machine for our Dental Clinic. This devise allows the dentist to x-ray all the teeth at once to better determine there relationship to one another. This is especially helpful when extrcting wisdom teeth. Also in September the Clinic received a $15,000 grant from Alcoa Fastening Systems. Alcoa is very committed to supporting the charities in their community.

On Friday October 2nd the Clinic hosted the United Blood Services Bloodmobile http://www.unitedbloodservices.org/ The first Friday of everymonth the Free Clinic Sponsors a blood drive. Supplies of blood have run low due to the demand following the recent Metrolink train disaster.

And finally, today we hosted a luncheon at Marie Callenders for our volunteer dentists. Eight were able to attend and all had a great time.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Olga Lafflitto's Birthday






Today we celebrated Olga's Birthday at El Patio restaurant just one block away from the Free Clinic. Olga is our marvelous Dental Program Administrator and even though her birthday is actually tomorrow we celebrated her birthday today because tomorrow she has volunteers scheduled to provide dental services. Is that dedication? YES! And that is why we appreciate her. Happy Birthday Olga!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Dr. Rogers


It is a beautiful day in our neighborhood now that Dr. William Rogers has joined our program. Dr Rogers replaced Dr. Monica Tantraphol as the attending physician for the Kaiser Permanente Residency Program which here several times a week. Dr. Rogers was formerly on the staff of Ventura County Hospital so he is very familiar with the area and local services. Although we greatly miss Dr. Tantraphol we are delighted to have Dr. Rogers on board.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Whew! What a day!!







Today the dental clinic opened at 9:00 a.m. with Dr Joise Dovidio and Dr Joe Cheng. They along with volunteers from Oxnard College Dental Assistant Program treated patients until 3:00 when Dr Ean Kleiger arrived to see even more patient up to 6:00 tonight. These are some photographs from the activities this morning. Note the DVD player showing a movie while a patient waits for Dr Dovidio.

Dr. Tantraphol treated medical patients at our Medical Clinic from 9 a.m. to Noon today as well.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Eagle Project





Nicolas Blume has completed his Boy Scout Eagle Project which was to convert one of the operatories at our Dental Clinic into a pediatric operatory. Nic and his team removed everything from the walls and painted them light blue. Then they painted clouds and balloons and kites on the walls and installed a flat screen TV with a DVD player. Now the children, having dental work done, can watch their favorite movies and imagine kites and clouds floating by. Thanks Nic!

New Physician Assistant


Brian Schlesinger first volunteered at the Free Clinic about 17 years ago. Brian was interested in medicine so he mentored with Dr Kurohara. Brian later applied to and was accepted into a physician assistant school in New Jersey. After graduating he returned to Southern California and pursued his career as a PA. About 11 years ago he once again came in and volunteered, but only for one evening, and once again with Dr Kurohara. Brian recently took a position here in Simi Valley and has offered to volunteer as a PA on a every other week basis. Last night Brian started his third time as a volunteer, since that first time 17 years ago, and again worked with Dr Kurohara. Brian is has a great sense of humor and is an experienced PA and will be a great addition to our medical staff.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Braces


Dictionary.com defines the word orthodonture
noun the branch of dentistry dealing with the prevention or correction of irregularities of the teeth [syn: orthodontics]. The Free Clinic of Simi Valley is proud to add this service to the list of services now offered at our full service Dental Program. Yes, we now are offering braces to our list of dental services making our Dental Program unparalleled in Ventura County and most of Southern California. Since we do not have the supplies and equipment necessary to offer this service, patients will be referred to
Dr. Steven Parle who will be assisted by our own Olga Lafflitto and the doctor will donate his time and supplies and treat the patient in his office. This service will be limited but as we are fond of saying her at the Free Clinic of Simi Valley, ‘It’s only the beginning”.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Client Leaves



His parents brought him to the Free Clinic of Simi Valley Family Counseling Program because he needed help. For over a year he worked in play therapy with one of our dedicated volunteer professionals. Today he came in with his father and brother to say goodbye for his final session. He walked into the room and gave his therapist a big hug. "Since you helped me so much, I want my spot to go to someone else who could use your help," he said. "You taught me a lot, and now I have the tools to deal with my anxiety." His therapist told him that she had learned from him, too.
This client is only eleven years old.

Friday, February 29, 2008

Youngest Volunteer



Andrea Wilson, who volunteers in both the Medical and Dental Programs, is a wonderful person and a MVV, Most Valuable Volunteer. Today she brought her young daughter to the Dental Program. Isabel, who has recently turned two, looks right at home at what looks like a child sized laptop computer and is actually a small DVD player.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Allied Insurance




Our friends at Allied Insurance offered to volunteer to paint our three exam rooms and we were happy to accept. Six staff members painted the three rooms and also cleaned our carpeting. Thanks!

Monday, February 11, 2008

Smile


It is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Here are two-thousand words.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Saturday Dental for Kids



Dr. Raza from the 1,000 Oaks Children’s Dental Group volunteers at our Dental Clinic one Saturday each month. Dr. Raza has a calm manner which is well received by the children he provides care for. Yesterday morning he treated six children for a variety of dental concerns and the kids and their families appreciated his care. Here is a picture of Dr Raza being assisted by our Dental Clinic Administrator Olga Laflitto.

Friday, January 25, 2008

That's TWELVE


Today Dr Dividio and Dr Cheng volunteered at our Dental Clinic. Dr Cheng performed a root canal on one patient and an extraction on another. Meanwhile Dr Dividio pulled 15 teeth on various patients, twelve on a 51 year old male.

In the next few weeks in conjunction with the Dental Technologies Lab next door, we will be fitting this gentlemen with some new teeth. We will post his progress on the blog.

Here is a photo of Dr Cheng work on one of his patients.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Board Retreat





On Friday January 18th and Saturday January 19th the Board of Directors of the Free Clinic held their annual retreat. The retreat was facilitated by Doug Green http://www.dhgreen.com/index2.html at the historic Pierpont Inn in Ventura. The retreat this year was focused on the upcoming sabbatical and the steps necessary to insure the smooth operation of the Free Clinic during Fred’s absence. One of the highlights of the weekend was dinner on Friday night when members of the Board and their families got relax and have some fun.