On Friday, May 22nd 2009, Dean Ira Lamster, D.D.S., M.M.Sc., and other members of the College of Dental Medicine, as well as Lee Goldman, M.D., Executive Vice President for Health and Biomedical Sciences and Dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Medicine, Columbia University; and elected officials from state and local government, including, Councilman Miguel Martinez, Councilman Robert Jackson, and other community members gathered for the Grand Opening of the Community DentCare Network Stitt Complex Dental Office. The ceremony was highlighted by the presentation of the College of Dental Medicine's Community Service Award to Assemblyman Herman Denny Farrell for his ongoing commitment to improving the oral health of the community.

The newly renovated state of the art dental facility now has two dental chairs and will extend its services to children and youth from the surrounding Washington Heights/Inwood Community.

Construction of the facility was funded in large part by a grant from the New York State Department of Health. In addition, Henry Schein, Inc. donated all of the dental equipment for the new facility.

Honorable Herman "Denny" Farrell accepts Columbia University "Community Service Award" at the grand opening ceremony of the dental clinic at the Stitt Complex M.S. 326 & M.S. 328.

About Herman "Denny" Farrell:

Assemblyman Herman D. Farrell, Jr. was elected to the State Assembly in 1974 from a district that encompasses West Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood. In March of 1994, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver appointed him chair of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. He is also a member of the Rules Committee and the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, as well as the New York State Assembly Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force. Assemblyman Farrell was elected County Leader of his political party in New York in April 1981, and is still serving in this position. He was initially elected on a platform of speaking on issues important to New Yorkers, and since the beginning of his tenure; the Committee has taken positions on issues such as reproductive freedom, gay and lesbian civil rights, and the restoration of federal monies for important social programs.