Organized dentistry as an agent for helping others: The leadership of Donna J. Rumberger

Dr Donna Rumberger graduated from New York University College of Dentistry in 1980 and has practiced dentistry in Manhattan ever since. Even before her graduation, she was active in organized dentistry, always viewing it as a conduit lor helping other people. Working with the American Assooiation of Women Dentists, she was cofounder of the Smiles for Success Foundation, a program started in New York City that helps women advance from welfare into the workforoe with restored, heaithy smiles. That program now has expanded to 14 other cities. Working with organized dentistry in New York City, she has been instrumentai in initiating and running the Skate Safe program, which provides mouthguards and oral home care education for inner city children in Hariem. in addition, she has worked with the dentistry merit badge program for the Boy Scouts of America Jamborees, helped coalesce women’s dental organizations in New York City, and led her dentai society to collaborate with Columbia University in a program to improve access to dental care. As further evidence of her ability to get things done, she also has served as president of the American Association of Women Dentists, the Midtown Dental Society, and the New York County Dental Society-one of the largest dental societies in the country.