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News from DDOK Foundation
May 2020
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Foundation Releases Impact Report |
DDOK Foundation is proud to partner with initiatives
throughout the state to advance oral health education and access to dental
care.
In 2019, 27 clinics and programs supported by Delta Dental
of Oklahoma Foundation (DDOKF) provided free dental care valued at nearly $12
million to more than 14,000 Oklahomans in need. Read more in our 2019 Impact
Report. Download Report >
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Oral Health Report Card Webinar Scheduled for May 29 |
 The Oklahoma Oral
Health Coalition will release the first-ever Oklahoma Oral Health Report Card
during a webinar on Friday, May 29, 2020. The report card provides a framework
for discussion on the challenges various populations face in accessing dental
care. The report reveals that, when compared to the nation’s performance on 13
key oral health indicators, Oklahoma often scores an F and has an overall score
of D.
Attendance for the webinar is free of charge, but
pre-registration is required. After the webinar, the oral health report card
and data source information will be available online at OOHC.org. Register now >
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Oklahoma Oral Health Forum Rescheduled for August 21
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The Oklahoma Oral
Health Forum, originally planned for March, has been rescheduled for Friday,
August 21, 2020, at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. The Forum
will be conducted by the DDOK Foundation and the Oklahoma Oral Health
Coalition. Registration will open in July. Details >
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Lauren Nichols, DDS
Delta Dental Scholar: 2015 |
OkMOM Inspires Path to Dentistry
In 2012, Lauren Nichols was a college student when her
childhood dentist, Dr. Steven Hogg of Tulsa, suggested volunteering at the
Oklahoma Mission of Mercy (OkMOM). Having watched her grow up in Broken Arrow,
he felt dentistry could be a good career fit for her. Her experience at OkMOM
inspired her to become a dentist and she was soon accepted into the OU College
of Dentistry (OUCOD) where she received a Delta Dental scholarship.
“Not only did the
Delta Dental of Oklahoma Scholarship help me financially, but it also helped my
self-esteem and encouraged me to persevere,” said Dr. Nichols. “Being recognized
for my achievements was a great honor and motivated me to continue to work
hard.”
Today, Dr. Nichols practices general dentistry at the
Community Health Connection in Tulsa, a Federally Qualified Health Center that
provides dental care access to underserved Oklahomans. Dr. Nichols says the
most rewarding aspects of her career are her colleagues, who have welcomed her
into the profession and provided guidance over the years, and “the fulfillment
that I get from patients who say fixing their smile changed their life. Moving
back to my hometown of Tulsa and being able to serve the community of people
that make Tulsa so great is very rewarding.”
Dr. Nichols’ service
extends beyond her clinic and into the community, where she has volunteered at
seven OkMOM events and two Remote Area Medical events and is a Friends of the
Food Bank member for the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. Her
professional service includes current Secretary/Treasurer of the Tulsa County
Dental Society, member of the House of Delegates for Tulsa County, and member
of the Oklahoma Dental Association Dental Care Committee.
Dr. Nichols’ resides in Tulsa with her 4-year-old Airedale
terrier, Bailey. In her free time she enjoys spending time with friends and
family, traveling, knitting, and exploring Tulsa’s arts festivals, restaurants
and shops.
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At the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation, one of our main goals is to connect
those in need, volunteers, and available resources to each other. To accomplish this, each quarter we publish the Resource for Dental Care Guide, a directory of every free or low-cost dental care resource we have located in the state of Oklahoma.
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