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!

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.

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.

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.

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”.

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.