Building the Dental Workforce with On-the-Job Training at Zufall Health
Zufall Health’s dental department recently introduced an exciting workforce development opportunity: the Dental Assistant On-the-Job Training program. Generously funded by the Delta Dental Foundation, the tuition-free, six-month training program teaches chairside dental assisting and radiology skills in preparation for the Dental Assisting National Board's Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam. Upon successful completion of the course and exam, trainees are guaranteed full-time positions as dental assistants (DAs) at Zufall. DAs play...
Meet Your Provider: Angela Otto-Ryan, DNP, APN
Providers at Zufall Health are committed to delivering affordable, high-quality care to everyone, no matter their circumstances. Pediatric nurse practitioner Angela Otto-Ryan, DNP, APN, CPNP-PC, CBC, finds motivation not only in Zufall's mission but also in the meaningful relationships she has built with her patients and their families during her two years at the health center. “I cannot imagine life without caring for my patients,” says Otto-Ryan, who sees patients ages...
The Power of Community Outreach: Laura Eirich’s Zufall Health AmeriCorps Story
Laura Eirich, MPH, oversees the Office of Community Health Workers at the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH). Community health workers (CHWs) — nonclinical health care professionals who provide health education, resources, and connection to health services — are a critical part of the U.S. public health system, bridging gaps between health care providers and underserved communities. Eirich, who earned a dual bachelor’s degree in public health and psychology from Carroll...
Zufall Health’s Community Dental Health Coordinator Training Program Facilitates Access to Dental Care in New Jersey and Beyond
Zufall Health is committed to providing access to high-quality, affordable, and culturally responsive health care, including dental care. Our Community Dental Health Coordinator (CDHC) program is one of our many innovative approaches for helping people access dental services, and the accomplishments of inaugural graduate Sherry Laliberte, RDH, in particular, help to illuminate its far-reaching impact. Above: Zufall Health dentist Antonella Maietta, DMD, conducts an oral health screening of a young child's...
Pediatrician-Led Program Helps Kids Get Moving, Eat Healthier Foods
“It gives me so much joy to know how to eat better. I am happy and my son is happy. Thank you.” “I liked the topic about portions. I am very happy because I learned a lot. I am very grateful to the program.” “It helps me a lot because I can vary my kids’ meals.” “They are very productive and educational meetings.” [caption id="attachment_20604" align="alignnone" width="750"] An exercise session in Dover[/caption] These are just...
Meet Your Provider: Maria V. Menzel, MSW, LCSW
Zufall Health’s Maria Menzel, MSW, LCSW, will never forget the compassionate support that her family received from a hospital social worker during a family health crisis—the severely premature birth of her twin niece and nephew—12 years ago. The experience revealed to Menzel the importance of social workers in medical settings and paved the way for her current-day career in social work. Menzel was in the hospital with her sister, Tanya, the...
HFNJ Grant Expands Team-Based Care for Essex County Seniors at Zufall Health
Zufall Health has expanded care for vulnerable Essex County seniors, courtesy of a generous award from the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey (HFNJ). The $120,000 grant from HFNJ supports our expansion of team-based medical, dental, behavioral, and supportive services to people 65-plus in and around our West Orange office. Seniors have an increased risk of chronic and communicable diseases, are more susceptible to social isolation, and are more likely to have...
Contract with Morris County Expands Dental Care Access for Seniors at Zufall Health
A new contract between Zufall Health and the Morris County Department of Human Services is expanding access to dental care for local seniors. The County recently awarded our health center $169,000 to provide comprehensive, no-cost oral health services to Morris County residents ages 60 and above who do not have dental insurance. The free services began in May and will continue as long as funds are available. Jade Duncan, DDS, M.Ed., director...
“Esperanza Para Las Madres” Supports New Spanish-Speaking Moms
Zufall Health is providing mental health support to Spanish-speaking moms in Esperanza Para Las Madres (Hope for Mothers), a new, virtual support group. Facilitated by licensed professional counselor Nereida (Nettie) Mendez, LPC, NCC, of Zufall’s behavioral health department, Esperanza is a free, 10-week program for people who are pregnant or have a baby up to one year old. Participants engage with other new mothers and learn about the importance of emotional...
Meet Your Provider: Antonella Maietta, DMD
Zufall Health providers perform many roles beyond their primary job functions, and dentist Antonella Maietta, DMD, is one shining example. For the past 11 years, she has been a full-time dental provider while assuming additional responsibilities that alleviate patients’ barriers to oral health care. Maietta is first and foremost a general dentist who cares for children and adults. She provides care wherever she is needed – in any of our dental...