“This is a landmark moment for the Foundation,” says Dr. Tina Meisami, founder of the Restoring Smiles project. Restoring Smiles is a non-profit organization that provides free dental care to female survivors of domestic abuse.

In July 2014 Restoring Smiles was awarded a $50,000 grant from the GreenShield Canada Community Giving Program for exceptional community service. Thanks to the efforts of project administrator Ms. Simone Taffe to secure the grant, Restoring Smiles is now able to double its number of patients.

“The grant made me realize that what I had hoped and envisioned for Restoring Smiles was no longer a dream,” says Dr. Meisami. “We can now continue to expand our services and hopefully one day become a constant source of support in Ontario for women who need us.”

Since its inception in 2010, the Dr. Borna Meisami Foundation, which administers Restoring Smiles, has provided full scope of free dental treatment to women affected by abuse. Restoring Smiles also provides non-OHIP services such as mental health support, plastic surgery and scar revision.

In the four years since its founding, Restoring Smiles has snowballed into a thriving organization with over 13 female service providers and dozens of patients. Since 2010 the Dr. Borna Meisami Foundation has provided over $150,000 worth of restorative treatment for over 30 patients, most of whom live in shelters across the GTA.

Working with Patients
Along with expanding services, Restoring Smiles plans to use the grant to tackle employment barriers faced by patients. Survivors of abuse often struggle to find gainful employment. The Dr. Borna Meisami Foundation’s newest project is to develop one staff position a year for former patients as spokespeople, administrators and patient care coordinators.
“It is important to us to have our own patients acting as our representatives,” says Dr. Meisami, “and working directly with us to expand and improve the organization. Our patients know best what they need to improve their lives, and they are the best people to tell us what we should do to move forward.” These staff positions will enable former patients to contribute directly to the organization, as well as share their personal strength and valuable lived experience with incoming patients.

About the Foundation
Restoring Smiles is administered by the Dr. Borna Meisami Commemorative Foundation, which was established in 2010 to honor the memory of Dr. Borna Meisami. Borna was an Orthopaedic surgeon and a humanitarian who was deeply affected by violence against women. Borna passed away at the age of 40 on July 1, 2007. Restoring Smiles commemorates his work as a compassionate and humane doctor with deep concerns about women’s social issues.

Interested in joining the team? The Foundation is seeking new doctors to join the team of service providers working with survivors of domestic abuse. To get in touch, call the numbers below or meet us one-on-one at ASM15, the Ontario Dental Association conference on May 7-9th 2015 at the Toronto Convention Centre.

Contact Info
www.drbmeisamifoundation.com
info@drbmeisamifoundation.com
Office: 416-923-2102

Restoring Smiles is made possible by the generous support of the following partners:
Donors
Toronto Crown and Bridge Study Club
The Douglas Utting Foundation
The Lakeshore Yacht Club
Industry partners
Nobel Biocare
Citagenix Canada
Gordana Dental Arts Studio
R. J. Smith Dental Lab
Proctor & Gamble
Henry Schein
3M
Doctors and their teams

Restoring Smiles provides the full scope of dental treatments such as fillings, crowns, veneers, bleaching, cleanings, root canals, dental implants, dentures, orthodontic treatment, jaw and facial reconstructive surgery. We also provide, as of this year surgical and nonsurgical scar revision.

The Dr. Borna Meisami Foundation is grateful for the work and support of the following individuals:

Founding Members and Board of Directors
Dr. Tina Meisami, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Dr. Maureen Fenn, Dental Surgeon
Dr. Yasmin Mawji, Dental Surgeon
Dr. Shiva Shadmand, Orthodontist
Dr. Renu Varshney, Dental Surgeon
Ms. Simone Taffe, Administrative Director

Members
Dr. Amelia Deliakis, Dental Surgeon
Dr. Sepideh Gharai, Dental Surgeon
Dr. Leslie Laing, Prosthodontist
Dr. Josie Marciello, Dental Surgeon
Dr. Tunde Pal, Dental Surgeon
Dr. Julie Paris, Dental Surgeon
Dr. Susanne Perschbacher, Radiologist
Dr. Emily Trohatos, Orthodontist Ms. Maya Dimitrijevic, Graphic Design
Ms. Romina Fakhai, Student
Ms. Mavis Hunter, Nobelbiocare
Ms. Vanessa Emam, Déco Addictude
Ms. Shyla Matthews, Social Worker
Ms. Ann McConvey, Dental Hygienist
Ms. Monika Nieweglowska, Admin.
Ms. Leaha Soczek, Dental Assistant