For many immigrant and non-English-speaking communities, accessing quality health and dental care can be challenging for reasons ranging from a lack of health insurance to a low level of trust and comfort in medical spaces.
But at Puentes de Salud, a non-profit health center in South Philadelphia, nearly 9,000 patients from the Philadelphia area—primarily from Mexico and other Latin American countries—receive medical and dental care, along with health education and outreach services, all in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Puentes de Salud is also the site of one of four Community Care Programs from Penn Dental Medicine’s Division of Community Oral Health. In the three-chair dental facility, Penn Dental Medicine faculty and 3rd and 4th-year students—most of whom are fluent in Spanish, and otherwise offer translation services—provide examinations and preventive and restorative dental care for patients of all ages, as well as health and dental hygiene education.
“I’m originally from Cuba and, as a Hispanic person with Hispanic heritage, it was very interesting to know that the University of Pennsylvania had a community site dedicated specifically to the Hispanic population,” said Penn Dental Medicine alumnus Mauritania Pol Nuris (class of 2024). “Representation is very important here, because when you have a provider who speaks the same language, and also has a similar background as yours… that makes you feel more comfortable.”
Pol Nuris pursued community health honors at Puentes, working over 140 hours at the site.
“Your Stories: Penn Dental & Puentes de Salud.” Puentes de Salud promotora and patient Rosalinda Hernandez sits with Penn Dental Medicine alum Mauritania Pol Nuris (class of 2024) to discuss Penn Dental Medicine’s Community Care Program at Puentes de Salud.
“People, when they go to Puentes, feel like they’re home because they see the same person, like [themselves],” said promotora and patient Rosalinda Hernandez. “Puentes is a very small clinic, but we have everything.”