More than a smile: A partnership of purpose and compassion

At Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC), we believe that education should do more than just build careers; it should build a stronger, healthier community. This commitment is at the heart of our partnership with Hillcrest Family Services to provide essential dental care to those who need it most.

Since July 2024, our Dental Assisting program has worked alongside Hillcrest to expand dental access for underserved individuals in our region. Today, clients from Hillcrest Residential Services in Dubuque visit the student-led clinic on our Peosta campus to receive compassionate, high-quality care.

"Our goal from the start was to provide care that is truly accessible," said NICC Dental Assisting Clinical Coordinator and Faculty Jeni Kohlmeyer. "The clinic fees are set only to cover material costs, and Hillcrest has helped secure community funding so their clients can receive care without financial barriers."

For our students, the clinic is a classroom without walls. While they develop technical skills, they are also learning the invaluable lesson of empathy. They witness firsthand how dental health impacts a person's dignity and overall well-being.

"It pains me to know that not everyone has equal access to basic dental care," said student Kaitlyn Thein. "On the other hand, it makes me so happy that our clinic here at NICC offers low-cost dental care, giving more people the opportunity to get the help they need. When they are in the office and I am their dental assistant, I want them to know that I understand them, care for them and will advocate for their needs."

This vital work is made possible by a dedicated network of volunteers-local dentists and dental hygienists who donate their private time to mentor our students and care for our patients. This year, services are provided from January to March, with Hillcrest clients visiting the clinic on Fridays.

Working in the clinic with real patients has been a transformative experience for students like Hannah Wendling. "It really has taught me to make sure that I am providing the patient with reassurance that they're safe, they're welcome and we are here to help them as best as we can," Wendling said. "I think that gives me a lot of confidence because it's the real-world experience that I need and reminds me that I'm doing this for a bigger reason than myself."

Looking toward the future, the College and Hillcrest are already planning to deepen this impact through 2026 to beyond. By combining education with community collaboration, we are finding meaningful solutions to health disparities, one smile at a time.

"The collaboration has already shown great promise," noted Janae Schmitt, director of business development at Hillcrest Family Services. "We truly value the shared commitment to providing essential dental care. We absolutely hope to see this partnership continue long-term."

Our community of care

We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the volunteers making this possible: Dr. Aaron Rauen, Dr. Scott Anderson, Dr. Peter Nemmers, Amanda Laufenberg, RDH, Dr. Leighton Holley, Rachele Martin, RDH, Dr. Mark Schemmel, Hayley Schaul, RDH, Dr. Shayna Schumacher, Dr. Logan Yager, Angie Zalaznik, RDH, Dr. Joe Zuccaro, Sherri Moore, RDH, Dr. Robin Briggs, Emilee Heims, RDH, Dr. Julie Koch-Womer, Courtney Kennedy, RDH, Dr. Chris Strohmeyer, Tami Arnold, RDH and Dr. Bailey O'Brien.