LCMD establishes Dental Outreach Department to strengthen community oral health

KARACHI: Liaquat College of Medicine & Dentistry (College of Dentistry) has taken a significant step toward advancing community oral health with the establishment of its Dental Outreach Department. The orientation session, held on October 13, 2025, was presented by Dr. Rizwan Hassan, Assistant Manager, Dental Outreach Department, who outlined the department’s mission, vision, and strategic initiatives.

The event was attended by Prof. Dr. Navid Rashid Qureshi, Principal, College of Dentistry, along with Heads of Departments, Chairpersons, and Committee In-Charges. They appreciated the initiative and shared valuable insights on how outreach activities could be effectively integrated with academic and clinical programs to enhance student learning and community engagement.

A strategic step toward sustainable oral health development

The Dental Outreach Department has been established in alignment with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) directive to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

By launching this department, LCMD becomes one of the first dental institutions in Pakistan to formalize a structured and sustainable community outreach framework dedicated to advancing oral health equity and institutional social responsibility.

Mission and core domains of the Dental Outreach Department

The department’s mission focuses on providing preventive and promotive oral healthcare to underserved populations, fostering student involvement in community-based learning, and building long-term partnerships that promote public well-being.

Its core domains include:

• Conducting structured community dental outreach programs and oral health camps.
• Implementing school-based oral hygiene and awareness initiatives.
• Promoting SDG-integrated academic and research activities.
• Establishing collaborations with NGOs and healthcare organizations for sustainable community service.
• Reinforcing LCMD’s leadership role in social accountability

The session concluded with an interactive discussion emphasizing that this new initiative reaffirms LCMD’s commitment to academic excellence, social accountability, and national health development goals.

By bridging academic learning with real-world impact, the Dental Outreach Department underscores LCMD’s leadership role among dental institutions in Pakistan — setting a model for others to follow in promoting accessible oral health care and community well-being.