PITTSBURGH, PA (PTTP) — Dr. Ed Korenman talks very highly about his time at Pitt. He
spent eight years between undergrad and dental school and describes them as “wonderful.” He
knew ever since he was young that he wanted to be a dentist and never had a second thought
about his career path. He says that at five years old he was walking out of the dentist office and
told his parents that this is what he wanted to do and that never changed. He says that his life
“has been like a dream come true.”
He had his own dental practice for many years, which he has since retired from, and now
continues to work part time in the pediatric department since 1980. He started taking part in a
free care day for national children’s dental health month. He talks about how he has always loved
this day and he “felt like we were doing something for the community.” He wanted to have more
days like these so he helped come up with the Summer Smiles program. This program gave the
opportunity for kids to get their teeth cleaned before they went back to school. This led to even
more free care that he was a part of and he says that “it kind of hit me that this is something that
is really good.” He and his wife started making contributions to the free care fund through the
university. He says that they have provided about $200,000 in free care and about $70,000 since
they started the Summer Smiles program. Dr. Korenman says “its been incredibly fulfilling for
me to be able to watch the free care and the effect it has on peoples’ lives…”
He has such a drive to give back and he says that he has hit his “stride” at this point in his life
and found out what he is passionate about and that being “trying to help these kids that really
need the care.” He talks about what an honor it is to see the money be put to great use for kids
who are in pain and in need of treatment and then see them leave there smiling. “Believe me I get
back way more than I give.”
To hear more about Dr. Korenman and the good he is doing, check out
https://www.alumni.pitt.edu/s/1729/alumni/interior.aspx?sid=1729&gid=2&pgid=5208&cid=142
67&ecid=14267&crid=0&calpgid=3183&calcid=5980
Credit: Pitt Dental Medicine