WSDA member Dr. Theresa Cheng of Issaquah is the recipient of the 2021 American Dental Association (ADA) Humanitarian Award. Each year, the Humanitarian Award honors an ADA member for improving the quality of life and oral health of individuals in the U.S. and internationally over a period of 10 years or more. Dr. Cheng was honored at ADA SmileCon™ in Las Vegas on October 13. 

Dr. Cheng, a retired periodontist, is the founder of Everyone for Veterans (E4V), which aims to improve the quality of life of low-income combat veterans by connecting them to their communities for goods and services, including access to dental care from qualified dental professionals across the country. 

Prior to her retirement in 2014, Dr. Cheng provided free dental care to family members caring for veterans returning from combat after hearing the story of a local veteran gravely injured in Iraq and his mother’s experience as his caretaker. Years later, in 2016, Cheng founded E4V with the goal of expanding comprehensive care to low-income veterans and those returning from war zones.

“I learned quickly that most veterans do not get dental benefits,” said Dr. Cheng. “At E4V, we call dentists around the country where the qualified veterans live and let them know about what we do, and many have answered our calls.” She added, “For these veterans, dentists and staff are not just fixing their teeth, we are feeding their souls.”

As a result of E4V’s community outreach efforts, more than 480 low-income, combat veterans in more than 30 states have received free comprehensive dental treatment to date. E4V also networks with dozens of specialists and dental labs across the U.S. that have agreed to provide volunteer services to low-income veterans. In addition, dental schools from the University of Iowa to the University of Washington serve veterans through E4V.

Read more about Dr. Cheng and the ADA Humanitarian Award on ADA.org, or watch the YouTube video below.

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