During the 2025–26 academic year, 31 University of Iowa College of Dentistry students, one resident, and one dentist volunteered their time at His Hands Dental Clinic in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where they provided dental care to 56 patients over 16 Saturdays throughout the fall 2025 and spring 2026 semesters.

The clinic, run by 1987 College of Dentistry graduate Dr. Jeff Akey, continued its partnership with Dr. Dan Caplan, professor of preventive and community dentistry, and the College of Dentistry to expand access to care for underserved patients in eastern Iowa.

Over the course of the year, volunteers completed 77 student visits and provided a range of services, including 22 hygiene, exam, and x-ray appointments; 22 operative procedures; 10 oral surgery procedures; one prosthetics service; and one endodontics service.

“It has been such a blessing and privilege to interact with these amazing students,” says Akey, “The students are positive, kind, professional, and upbeat. Their skills reflect the high-quality education they are receiving and it’s a great joy to work with them.”