Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for New Dental Clinic at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem

A ribbon-cutting ceremony held on May 8, 2015, celebrated the opening of the newly renovated and expanded Dr. James E. McIntosh Dental Services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem. The new $6.3 million clinic offers increased patient capacity along with new dentistry and imaging equipment to a clinic that handled 21,000 patient visits last year. The clinic was relocated to the mezzanine level of the Samuel L. Kountz Pavillion, at 136th Street and Fifth Avenue.

Dr. Ram Raju, HHC President and CEO, was joined at the event by healthcare leaders and prominent elected officials, including Congressman Charles B. Rangel and Councilmember Inez E. Dickens.

“The new Dr. James E. McIntosh Dental Services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem offers patients a greatly improved experience, which makes it more likely that they will see their caregiver for regular checkups,” Dr. Raju said. “Dental hygiene is often overlooked as part of effective primary care, but poor oral health has been shown to contribute to other conditions such as stroke and heart disease. We are happy to make this investment in the long-term health of the Harlem community.”

The new clinic offers 23 treatment areas, expanding its capacity by about 1,000 patient visits per year. Each treatment area now has an individual X-ray unit. The clinic is now capable of treating pediatric, adult, geriatric, wheelchair bound and hearing-impaired and visually impaired patients.

The clinic, which first opened in 1984, was named to honor of Dr. McIntosh, the former chairman of the dentistry department, for his 40-year career as a dentist, educator, humanitarian and community advocate. Dr. McIntosh first joined Harlem Hospital in 1984. Gwendolyn Elliot-McIntosh, widow of Dr. McIntosh, and Ebonè Carrington, Chief Operating Officer of HHC NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem and daughter of Dr. McIntosh, were guests at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.