2016 AWARD RECIPIENTS
PDA PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD
Since its inception in 2009, the Lehigh Valley Hospital Miles of Smiles
Mobile Dental Van has treated more than 7,000 patients and provided
$2.5 million in treatment services at no charge, a huge success largely due
to the grant writing efforts of director Patricia Lee Atno and chairman
Dr. Charles Kosteva.
Miles of Smiles provides free dental services to low-income, uninsured and
underserved children in the Allentown School District. The van features two
treatment rooms, a digital X-ray unit, a sterilizing device, registration area
and a wheelchair lift. The van serves students in four Allentown elementary
schools, with a dentist, dental hygienist, dental assistant and a driver who
doubles as a clerk.
PATRICIA LEE ATNO,
CDA
In her nomination letter, Dr. Cynthia Olenwine, president of the Second
District Valley Forge Dental Association, stated “…these two individuals
and this important access to care program are eminently qualified to be the
recipients of the Pennsylvania Dental Association Public Service Award.”
Since 2009 Miles of Smiles has had 12,000 visits and its staff has performed
40,000 procedures. Ms. Atno and Dr. Kosteva have utilized their grant
writing skills and contacts with the Foundation of the American Academy
of Pediatric Dentistry and its Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children Initiative in
order to secure the necessary funding for this wonderful initiative.
Dr. Kosteva is a 1971 graduate of Temple University School of Dentistry
and has been on staff at Lehigh Valley Hospital since 1972, including 27
years as chief of the Division of General Dentistry. He has either chaired or
worked on a lengthy list of committees, both at the hospital and with the
Valley Forge Dental Conference, a conference he has been heavily involved
with for 20 years.
CHARLES A. KOSTEVA,
DDS
Ms. Atno has been Practice Director for Dental Medicine at LVH and Miles
of Smiles since 1976. She has served on several important community boards
and committees, including Greater Lehigh Valley Access to Care Task
Force, LVH Access to Care Committee and the Head Start Advisory Board.
PDA is proud to recognize the efforts of Ms. Atno and Dr. Kosteva in
improving the oral health for underserved children in the Lehigh Valley and
is pleased to honor them with our 2016 Public Service Award.
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