Prevention is Power Advances Community Health through Cross-Sector Collaboration

On Saturday, June 27, 2026, more than 100 community members gathered at Haven Plaza for Prevention is Power, a community health event hosted by Team Roc, Roc Nation's philanthropic division, and Henry Schein Cares in partnership with Columbia University College of Dental Medicine (CDM). The event offered free dental screenings and cleanings, medical screenings—including HbA1c testing and Oral Genome saliva testing—health education, family games, music, and referrals for follow-up care, empowering participants with information about their health while reinforcing the important connection between oral health and overall health.

CDM Chief of Staff Adina Berrios Brooks, who spearheaded planning for Prevention is Power, said one guiding principle shaped the event from the beginning. 

“Raising awareness of available dental and medical services, and helping people establish both a dental and a medical home, is going to improve outcomes for the people in our community.” 

Prevention is Power grew out of CDM's longstanding partnership with Henry Schein Cares, which shares the college's belief that oral health is an essential part of overall health. As Henry Schein Cares and Team Roc expanded their community health initiative across New York City, they invited CDM to join the effort, recognizing CDM's commitment to community outreach and prevention. The partnership combined each organization's strengths: Henry Schein provided equipment, logistical and local industry support, Team Roc led community engagement, and CDM delivered the clinical expertise needed to provide care and connect participants with ongoing resources. 

The event was a collective effort that would not have been possible without the support of the CDM and broader community. CDM faculty members volunteered alongside more than a dozen CDM students, CDM staff and alumni, CUMC students, nutrition students from Teachers College, and volunteers from the New York County Dental Society and the American Dental Hygienists Association. Dean Dennis Mitchell, DDS, MPH, joined CDM Association of Dental Alumni President Dr. Mina Kim, DDS '10, and Vice President Dr. Angelo Ostuni, DDS '02, MD '06, OMFS '08, in supporting the day's activities. The event also welcomed Henry Schein CEO Frederick M. Lowery and New York Knicks player Dillon Jones.

A key feature of Prevention is Power was its emphasis on children's dental care. Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and CDM alumnus Dr. Aaron Myers, DDS,  who helped shape the event's clinical programming and treated pediatric patients alongside pediatric dentistry residents that day, said the event expanded what CDM is typically able to offer through community outreach. 

“The event offers a number of different screenings and activities that emphasize whole body health and how oral health is an important part of overall health,” Myers said. “Usually, we offer oral screenings for children, but at this event we were able to provide comprehensive exams, radiographs, and cleanings for children 8 and under.” 

The event was one example of CDM's broader commitment to improving access to care in the community it serves. Each year, CDM reaches thousands of patients through its teaching clinics, the DentCare program, including its mobile dental services, and other community outreach initiatives. More than 85 percent of patients treated in CDM's teaching clinics are insured through Medicaid. During 2025, CDM provided nearly 100,000 patient visits to more than 24,800 unique patients. Its pediatric clinic alone cared for more than 4,800 children and patients with special health care needs through nearly 9,500 visits. 

Berrios Brooks said the event's success will ultimately be measured not only by the number of screenings completed, but also by how many participants establish ongoing relationships with health care providers. During the event, 60 participants were referred for follow-up care, connecting them with services beyond the day's activities. 

“If we can help a family that didn't think dental care was available or accessible to them—not just by providing care that day, but by helping them sign up for Medicaid and learn about the sliding-scale dental care available to them—that would be a huge victory from my perspective.” 

The event also highlighted one of the advantages of providing care within an academic medical center. 

“One of the advantages of being part of an academic medical center with a dental school, a medical school, and a hospital affiliation is that I can really treat the whole patient,” Berrios Brooks said. 

She pointed to cancer care as one example of how coordinated treatment can improve patient outcomes. Receiving a dental evaluation before starting chemotherapy can help identify oral health issues that might otherwise interrupt treatment. By coordinating care across specialties, providers can help patients begin and continue treatment with fewer complications while improving overall outcomes. 

Dr. Jaya Sarin Pradhan, DMD, MD, MPH, a graduate of Columbia's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons who now serves as a part-time faculty member at CDM, volunteered as a faculty supervisor. Throughout her career, she has advocated for treating oral health as an essential part of overall health rather than as a separate discipline. 

“Conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses can be connected to oral health, making prevention and early detection especially important. Small steps taken today can have a lasting impact on long-term wellness.” 

 That philosophy has shaped both her clinical work and her approach to community outreach. 

“Health equity begins with prevention. As an oral and maxillofacial pathologist, my mission has always been to put the mouth back in the body by highlighting the essential connection between oral and overall health. Prevention is Power brings that mission to life by uniting our community, students, and faculty to expand access, raise awareness, and create lasting impact beyond the clinic.” 

Organizers hope Prevention is Power will become an annual tradition. Through cross-sector collaboration, the event provided a model for how academic dental institutions can broaden their role from treating disease to promoting prevention and improving community health. By bringing education and care directly into the community, Prevention is Power demonstrated what is possible when academic institutions, industry, and community organizations work toward a shared goal.