Dr. Evan Spivack Named Arc of NJ Healthcare Professional of the Year
Dr. Evan Spivak was named Healthcare Professional of the Year by The Arc of New Jersey at its annual ceremony in Somerset County this month.
Spivack, a professor of pediatric dentistry lauded for his dedication to treating special needs patients, was one of 13 honorees in a variety of categories but the only one who received an award for his work in the medical profession.
“This year’s award winners believe in the equality of individuals with developmental disabilities and their right to access the same opportunities available to all citizens,’’ said Thomas Baffuto, executive director of The Arc of NJ. “I applaud them for their devotion, but also for the example they set for others. They are committed to the creation of a diverse society that is inclusive to all, and…work to make that goal a reality.’’
For more than a decade, Spivack, a practitioner at Rutgers Health University Dental Associates, has worked with RSDM patients who have physical and intellectual disabilities. He trains students and works directly with patients at the Delta Dental of New Jersey Special Care Center, one of the only clinics of its kind in the region that helps patients with disabilities, including geriatric patients and those with mental disorders. He is also program administrator for RSDM's second-year residency program in special care dentistry.
For the disabled, dental care is often scant or nonexistent and the experience of visiting a dentist can be filled with anxiety. At RSDM, student-doctors and faculty are specially-trained to work with special needs patients in a clinic that's equipped with accommodations for patients who are wheelchair bound or must be transported via stretcher. All operatory spaces are private, which is especially important for patients who are troubled by noise or too much stimulus.
"This is a population that desperately needs not just treatment, but care,'' said Spivack. "Every one of our patients is unique: I found myself drawn to the challenges of working with patients with special needs, as well as to the emotional and spiritual rewards that come with caring for this patient population."
He added, "The most important lesson that I try to instill in our students is that each patient has their own needs and challenges. There is no 'cookbook' approach to patient care. Look at the whole patient, not just the mouth—try to understand who they are and what challenges they, and their caregivers, face on a daily basis. Treat each patient the way you would members of your own family."
