DEAH DAY continues service legacy

For the ninth consecutive year, students, faculty and staff at UNC Adams School of Dentistry performed service projects at Triangle-area nonprofits, local waterways and the school’s clinic on Oct. 4 for DEAH DAY (Directing Efforts and Honoring Deah And Yusor). The annual day of service honors the lives of Deah Barakat, DDS ‘17, Yusor Abu-Salha, DDS ‘19, and Razan Abu-Salha, who were killed in 2015.

“DEAH DAY is a special day here at ASOD,” said Dean Janet Guthmiller. “It’s such a wonderful way for us to embrace the spirit of service and truly honor the lives of Deah, Yusor and Razan we lost to tragedy. I’m so proud of our students, faculty and staff for choosing to give back to our community and make a difference.”

Recognizing the efforts and marking the tragic events that took the lives of three young adults, Gov. Roy Cooper issued a proclamation, which was presented to Guthmiller.

“On the ninth annual DEAH DAY, our office wanted to honor the lives and the legacy of Our Three Winners and the amazing service work you all do each year in their name,” said Tracy Lovett, director of public engagement in the Office of the Governor. “The light that has come from such a dark tragedy is truly a reflection of their character and how they chose to live their lives in service to others.”

Dental student Amr Saleh presented a TED Talk video featuring Suzanne Barakat, Deah Barakat’s sister, to remind everyone why the day is important. Because acts of service were important to Barakat, teams of students, faculty and staff:

• Volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Triangle Land Conservancy, Threshold Club House, Meals on Wheels, SECU Family House, AnimalKind, The Green Chair Project, Boys and Girls Club, Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge, Note in the Pocket, N.C. Dental Society, Duke Lemur Center, N.C. Therapeutic Riding Center, Grow Your World, Diaper Bank, CORA food pantry, Carolina Community Garden and Community Action Advocacy Restoration and Empowerment.
• Cleaned up waterways in Apex, around Jordan Lake and Ellerbee Creek.
• Provided care in the school’s clinics and cleaned around the school.

Dental students provided free dental care at the HSDA clinic in Chapel Hill as part of UNC Adams School of Dentistry’s annual DEAH DAY. (Chris Pope)

“This service work is important to me because it shows the impact we can have when a group of caring and passionate individuals unite across a community to accomplish a goal,” said organizer and dental student Anjali Mistry. “When I participate in DEAH DAY every year, I feel a sense of belonging and gratitude for the people that I work with every day.”

Dental student Bree Smith, a DEAH DAY committee member, said it was a way for her to do something beyond volunteering.

“DEAH DAY is so important because as a busy dental student, it’s easy to lose sight of all the good you can do in the community. In school, we’re taught leadership skills, technical dentistry and to have a heart, and when we leave the school, we’re expected to be leaders in our community. I think the best leaders are the ones who lead by example, and on DEAH DAY we are all leading by example through our volunteering involvement,” Smith said.

Volunteers said they participated in the day because it offered an opportunity to engage with organizations doing service work in local communities and to work with peers in a different setting.

“It was amazing to see the progress that we could make as a team when we all joined together with a common mission,” said Amie Sigmann, assistant director of dean’s office operations. “It gave us a chance to help community organizations that do so much good and give back every day. I also love that we got to enjoy time in nature together.”