ECU Smiles for Veterans tradition continues momentum with Ross Hall event

ECU Smiles for Veterans tradition continues momentum with Ross Hall event

Samantha Yarboro, a second-year student in East Carolina University's School of Dental Medicine, joined the U.S. Navy in 2013 and separated in July 2023, a month before beginning dental school.

On Dec. 7 - in a full-circle moment - she gave back to her fellow veterans as a volunteer during the school's first-ever ECU Smiles for Veterans event in Ross Hall, the school's facility on the Health Sciences Campus.

"As a former service member, providing care for fellow veterans was an incredibly fulfilling experience," Yarboro said.

Students provided oral health care - from routine cleanings to extractions and root canals - for 26 veterans, who received $12,000 worth of care. The event was sponsored by the Service League of Greenville.

The ECU Smiles for Veterans initiative began in 2018 at the school's community service learning center (CSLC) in Sylva. Since then, the event has expanded to seven of the eight CSLCs across the state and provided $220,000 worth of care for more than 400 veterans. The program began in partnership with the Veteran Smiles Foundation and local veterans' organizations and has expanded to be sponsored by other supporters and groups over the years.

A shared bond

Yarboro enlisted as a hospital corpsman and became a dental hygienist in 2018. She was eventually called to pursue a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree, and ECU's dental school was the right fit for her - in part because of opportunities to give back during events like ECU Smiles for Veterans.

"Even though I had not met these veterans before their appointments, the shared bond of military service created an immediate sense of camaraderie and trust," Yarboro said. "It felt deeply rewarding to extend the mutual respect and understanding forged in uniform into a civilian setting, where our common experiences became the foundation for meaningful connections and compassionate care."

She added that the experience was a profound full-circle experience for her that bridged two chapters of her life.

"Caring for veterans is deeply personal because I recognize the unique challenges they face, from service-related injuries to the mental health struggles that often come with transitioning to civilian life," she said. "Having walked in similar boots, I feel a profound sense of responsibility to ensure they receive the highest level of care, compassion and advocacy."

Fourth-year student Allison Tempel has volunteered during ECU Smiles for Veterans events since before she entered dental school. She has already enlisted in the Army, following in the footsteps of her father, Dr. T. Rob Tempel, the dental school's associate dean for extramural clinical practices. The two have volunteered together since the first event in 2018.

Allison Tempel and advanced education in general dentistry resident Dr. Aleasia Lee spoke to the media during the event, thanking the community for its support and detailing the experience of seeing the veterans' smiling faces after their procedures.

"Actually providing the care for the veterans has been really special," Lee told a local news reporter.

As Yarboro assisted in the advanced dentistry clinic, she too was rewarded with smiles from veterans who had not been able to access care for years - a priceless gift that stemmed from a shared understanding of service as a way of life.

The parallels, she said, have lent to her success in dental school so far.

"My military service has been instrumental in preparing me for the challenges of dental school by instilling in me discipline, resilience and a commitment to excellence," she said. "The structured environment of the military demanded precision, adaptability and a relentless focus on achieving objectives under pressure. I have found that these skills are directly transferable to the rigorous academic and clinical demands of my dental education."

'It means the world'

Patient Cristina Speed, who served in the Air Force for seven years, traveled to the event from Butner, where she learned about the day through the Veterans Life Center of North Carolina.

She had her teeth cleaned and felt a wave of relief afterward.

"I've been waiting almost a decade to get this done," she said through tears. "Life situations kept me from it. When I became a civilian, it became harder, and I didn't realize how much of a struggle it is to get care. You all providing this is just a great relief."

Speed said her providers were gentle and compassionate and talked her through each step of the process during her cleaning.

"It wasn't as scary as I thought it was going to be; I had some tender problem areas," she said. "They were careful, and I'm very grateful. It means the world to me."

Dr. Greg Chadwick, dean of the dental school, told local news reporters that it was special to see the ECU Smiles for Veterans event return to the school's home base in Ross Hall, after expanding across the state over the years.

"To be able to provide a significant amount of care to people in and around Pitt County is really special to us," Chadwick said. "It's a privilege to see this event come back to Ross Hall and the work our teams are doing."

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