Bay Cliff Health Camp

Bay Cliff, Michigan

Since the early 1960s, thousands of physically disabled children and adolescents have received oral health care from U-M dental students and pediatric dental residents at the Bay Cliff Health Camp about 30 minutes northwest of Marquette.

An 8–year–old patient appreciated the work dental student Megan Hagerman did for him.

Originally built as a dairy farm in the early 1900s, the camp was abandoned during the Great Depression but purchased by Bay Cliff and reopened in 1934 to serve malnourished children who lived in the Upper Peninsula.

Since the polio outbreak in the 1940s, staff members and camp volunteers have worked to improve the lives of children and adolescents (ages 3 to 17) with physical disabilities through an intensive seven-week summer program of daily therapy and traditional camp activities that begins in mid June and ends in early August.

A patient shares a laugh with dental student Adam Mileski (left) and pediatric dental resident Dr. Sam Malcheff (right).

U-M dental students and residents are there for three weeks in July. Three fourth-year dental students and two third-year pediatric dental residents provide care in one-week rotations. They join more than 130 staff members, therapists, physicians, and nurses. Oral health care volunteers and staff members include Drs. Bud Kipka (DDS 1973), Greg Sutherlund (DDS 1978), and Mary Clifford (DDS 1992), registered dental hygienists, dental assistants, and dental supervisor Pat Theisen.

About seventy percent of the 156 children and adolescents who were at the camp in 2007 received some kind of dental work. Radiographs (x-rays), fluoride treatments, sealants, amalgams, and extractions were the most common procedures.

“I’m the Lucky One”

Mike Hoffman, one of nine dental students at the camp, described his week at Bay Cliff as “a unique experience.” Working alongside pediatric residents in a new dental clinic, he said, “was a great learning experience. But the real value was being able to interact with such great kids. Living with them and watching them grow while they were there was very uplifting.”

Amy Peterson described her experiences at Bay Cliff as “incredible. I’m the lucky one,” she said. “I learned about true courage, kindness, and tenacity from a very special group of campers.”

Tim Bennett, camp director, was pleased with the results.

“Last year, 2007, was another successful year for the young men and women who came to Bay Cliff to develop the skills they need to live a better and fuller life. At Bay Cliff, success is a team effort that involves all of our staff and volunteers,” he said. “More importantly, success comes from the heart and spirit of each of our guests who believe in themselves and who continue to persevere despite the challenges they face. We are grateful to the University of Michigan School of Dentistry for being a part of our program.”