The Westminster Free Clinic in Thousand Oaks provided health services to more than 8,000 people last year. While thousands at the Janss Road location saw doctors, received immunizations and were provided counseling services and physical therapy, just 300 dental patients were treated.
Thousand Oaks High School student Paul Moon, a volunteer at the health practice, was frustrated that the clinic — which had limited dental equipment — was forced to give patients with rotting and lost teeth referrals for dental work they wouldn't be able to afford. "Something needed to change," he said.
The 17-year-old solicited donations of equipment, ranging from dental chairs to an X-ray machine, and of time. Thanks to the generosity of some local dentists, the Westminster Free Clinic Healthy Teeth Healthy Smiles program will have its grand opening at the clinic's secondary location at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Westlake Village. The dentists expect to treat 500 patients in the upcoming year.
One dentist in particular answered the call to action. Dr. Aaron Choroomi is an Agoura Hills native who has run a dental practice there for the past decade. His practice manager, Pam Shad, said Choroomi has always provided free services to his low-income patients, from single mothers to senior citizens. When approached to help with the clinic, Choroomi jumped at the chance to expand his pro bono services. Not only did he donate costly equipment to the fledgling dental clinic, he also became its director.
"He feels like the community has supported him all these years and he wants to give back," Shad said. "People don't realize how their dental health is related to issues like diabetes and heart disease."
Lisa Safaeinili, executive director of the Westminster Free Clinic, noted that despite the popular conception that Thousand Oaks is a wealthy suburb, there is a dire need for medical and dental care among the Conejo Valley's low-income population. "Our nannies, cleaning ladies, gardeners and restaurant workers make our community comfortable for the rest of us," she said. "We want to make sure they're healthy, too."
Safaeinili said the clinic invested $30,000 in foundation funds and private donations to outfit the dental office, and noted that additional funding will be needed to expand the number and scope of treatments. A GoFundMe page was established to help raise money, and the clinic is also seeking additional volunteer dental professionals — from dentists to hygienists — to staff the clinic. To make it easier for dentists to donate their services, the clinic permits them to treat clinic patients at their own private practices.
Teen volunteer Paul, a varsity tennis player at TOHS with a 4.6 GPA and aspirations to attend MIT, said he learned the importance of community service from his family. Paul is the younger brother of Bernard Moon, a TOHS student who was tragically killed in April 2016. "Seeing him impact people, it's the idea that when you die, you're only remembered by the people you helped," Paul said. "At the end of the day, I want to help people."
To donate to the dental clinic, visit the GoFundMe page for Healthy Teeth Healthy Smiles. For every $25 donation, donors receive a $50 gift certificate for any dental treatment at Dr. Choroomi's practice, Agoura Dental.
