On Monday, April 28, 2026, the Indiana University School of Dentistry (IUSD) received the Family Development Services (FDS) Making a Difference Award—recognition of a 15-year partnership that has expanded access to oral health education for thousands of Head Start children while shaping the next generation of dentists through service learning.
The partnership began when Dr. Stuart Schrader and retired colleague Dr. Joan Kowolik worked with FDS to take first-year dental students into a local Head Start school. More than 100 students participated in that inaugural visit, providing oral health education to children ages 2 to 6. Over time, the initiative evolved from a one-day experience into a sustained partnership serving four schools, with expanded support that includes dental supplies, parent education, and Head Start advocacy.
“It has taken a village of students, faculty, and administrators to build the capacity of this community relationship,” said Schrader, IUSD’s Head Start program coordinator. Among many faculty and staff, as well as FDS colleagues, he credits Drs. Kowolik, Odette Aguirre, and Armando Soto Rojas for the school’s consistent contributions to the partnership’s growth and success.
“Service to others defines who we are as dental professionals,” said IUSD Dean Dr. Carol Anne Murdoch-Kinch. “Preparing students to serve communities with compassion and skill is central to our mission. Partnerships like this one allow our students to learn in meaningful, real-world settings while creating a lasting impact for our community’s children.”
Schrader noted that the collaboration allows dental students to translate classroom concepts, such as cognitive development and social determinants of health, into practice. The experience also helps students become more effective communicators, strengthening their abilities to understand and care for pediatric dental patients, as well as communicate with their parents. As an unintended outcome, many students have organized fundraisers to provide Head Start children with winter clothing and other essentials, meeting their needs beyond dentistry.
“I’m incredibly proud of our students, faculty, and staff for the dedication it takes to build and sustain a program like this,” Murdoch-Kinch added. “We’re grateful to our partners at FDS for their collaboration, their trust, and this meaningful recognition.”
“This award was unexpected,” Schrader said. “I sincerely thank FDS for recognizing the nearly 2,000 IUSD students, faculty, and staff who have helped build a deeply engaged partnership—one that continues to inspire positive action beyond the classroom.”