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“Dear Dr. Kauffman,
Thank you so much for taking care of my 92 year old mother’s dental needs. Your professional and compassionate manner allow my mother to remain calm and cooperative while you are working on her. We are so lucky to live in New York where dentists like you exist. I certainly hope you can train others to do what you do, as there is an incredible need for the services that you provide to the geriatric and dementia population. You have such a great insight into this challenging, yet rewarding niche in the dental field that will only continue to increase in demand as our general population ages.
Under your expert care my mother has all her own teeth and a beautiful smile! Finding you was such a blessing. Your understanding of the challenges and needs of our seniors as it pertains to good oral and overall health has helped us immensely in our daily dental care routine. Thank you for all that you do for your patients and their families.”
Evelyn Versace
“
“We were lucky to find Alisa but it was difficult. My wife Susan, Sweet Susan, has Alzheimer’s Dementia. Finally, about 3 years ago, her family Dentist of many years told me he could no longer treat her because she could not follow his directions and we needed a Dentist who could sedate her!”
My Wife Susan
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“Dear Dr. Kauffman, We thank you for the amazing job you did restoring our sister’s smile!”
The Osea Family
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“Dr. Kauffman is responsive, compassionate and provides efficient care. Her follow up care and concern for her patient was exemplary!
She saved the day and we were able to celebrate my mother’s 100th birthday.
Thank you,”
BETHANY
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“Thank you a million Dr. Kauffman.
This is my best Christmas in many years.
You are my angel.
-Carl A.”
CARL A
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“I cannot believe how beautiful my grandmother’s dentures look and fit.
We only wish we found you sooner s she would have had more years to smile and eat effectively!
God Bless You for providing this unique service.”
PAUL L
“Dear Dr. Kauffman,
Alan is doing well. I think he must have been in pain with the loose tooth because he has been very quiet and seems to feel good since you pulled the tooth. He used to moan a lot, and would eat very slowly. I usually had to feed him after he took a few bites. He has not moaned this afternoon. He had a nap in his recliner, and he ate a good lunch and dinner easily and he fed himself. I am so happy that you treated him.. II think it made a big difference in him. Lucinda agrees with me. Thank you. Also, no bleeding. I gave him his coumadin at seven. All is well, for sure Thank you very much.”
ALAN IS DOING WELL
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“Dear Doctor Kauffman,
I wanted to let you know that our mom passed away this morning. As you know she’d been a long slow decline and today it caught up with her. She passed away with all her teeth but one, thanks to your good care and her good genes! You were a godsend during these last few years when we couldn’t get her to the dentist.
Thank you for your care and kindness.
Sincerely,
Alison and Babette Lazarus”
ALISON AND BABETTE LAZARUS
“I have general anxiety disorder and am very scared of the dentist .. I don’t travel from home and I contacted Dr. Alisa Kauffman for advice and she went above and beyond to help me. I truly recommend her to all.
Thank you
-S.K.”
S.K
“Dear Dr. Kauffman,
My entire family thanks you for the wonderful treatment you provided for my husband with Alzheimer’s Disease. We were frustrated that he would not cooperate for his dentist of 20 years, but miraculously you were able to make him new well fitted dentures that he doesn’t want to remove. And in this freezing cold weather you were able to do the entire process in our apartment. Whoever doesn’t believe in miracles needs to meet you.
We thank you for your patience and kindness and wish you all the best with your newest endeavors.
Kindest regards,
-Dolores D. and family”
DOLORES D. AND FAMILY
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“Thank you so much for your patience and for giving me my smile back!”
Thank You!
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“Thank you so much for having the compassion and energy to do this type of work. I’m watching one of your videos as I write this!
How fantastic and joyful you are. I wish I’d been there to see you in person.
Please know I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
-Wendy L.”
WENDY L
“Hi Dr. Alisa
I thought you would want to know that my mother passed away on Saturday afternoon.
Thank you so much for the wonderful care you gave her. The mouth guard worked really well. So well, in fact, that for the last several weeks, Margaret said she had stopped grinding her teeth.
We very much appreciated your concern and your kind and gentle treatment.
Wishing you and your family the very best for this coming New Year.
Debbie”
DEBBIE
“Thanks so much for treating my mother. When I woke up in the middle of the night and saw you on PBS, it was a dream come true. I’ve been concerned about my mother getting dental care, because I know how important that was to her and my dad. So thanks for fulfilling that need.
-Leslie Hoff”
LESLIE HOFF
“Thanks so much Dr.Kauffman for the care you provided for my 95 year old mom. In a time whe medical and dental care is a business,fiding a caring and dedicated professional whose first prioity is the health of her patient is truly and answer to our prayers.
Thanks so much from the bottom of my heart.
From S. Hall.”
S. HALL
“Alisa
I read with great appreciation the article about your mobile dentistry in a magazine Igor shared with me. Even though it has been a long time since Willene and I were your patients, I remember the deft, precise work you performed. The article was so descriptive of your person that I felt I was once again in your chair.
I was surprised when you left the practice. Fortunately, Igor’s architecture has precluded the need for your new services. But as a professor of innovation and entrepreneurship, I truly applaud your creative choice to fulfill an unmet need in a way that few are capable of doing. I wish more professionals would emulate your passionate, creative service.
Frank
PS
Igor also told me about all your good work at Penn, which is my favorite Ivy.”
FRANK H.
““Dr. Kauffman is a real angel. What a beautiful gift of needed service for her patients.”
“So many services, such as dentistry and optometry are lacking in nursing homes and for shut-ins. My father’s glasses were mangled when the nursing home aides allowed them to drop to the floor where they were crushed when the aides moved dad’s bed. He couldn’t see without them. Somehow we managed to get the frames bent back into shape, but there was no way to get him fitted with new glasses. The world needs more practitioners like Dr. Kauffman.”
“This is a brilliant service. Dental care is overlooked for the elderly yet vital for healthy aging. As we encourage more people to age in place, serving this home-bound population will become socially critical and lucrative for businesses.”
“What a really wonderful breath, of fresh air to see such a story. Dr. Koffman thank you for your compassion and dedication in treating those in need. Being this is such a unique story and one that beams integrity, I have added your story to a page that honors professionals such as yourself.
http://www.welcometodds.com/medical-hall-of-fame
Thank you again for your exemplary service and for teaching others to follow suit.””
WASHINGTON POST TESTIMONIALSTHESE TESTIMONIALS WERE TAKEN FROM COMMENTS ON THE WASHINGTON POST.
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“My Dad is 100 years old. He developed dementia a few years ago. Recently his dentures broke in half, and a tooth went missing. Not having dentures made mealtimes challenging. His food needed to be mashed to make it easier for him to eat. Speaking was a little difficult for him too. Not to mention, at 100 years old, he couldn’t understand why we took his dentures away; He kept asking for them.
We tried a couple of neighborhood dentists but they rejected him: either they didn’t accept his insurance or simply weren’t equipped to work with geriatric patients. With that, my sister decided to surf the net in search of a geriatric dentist. Lo’ and behold, she came across Dr. Alisa Kauffman, DMD. I immediately called Dr. Kauffman, and without hesitation, she assured me that she could replace the missing tooth, repair the dentures, and overnight them back to my Dad via Fed Ex. Wednesday afternoon my brother-n-law dropped off the dentures, and by Friday morning my Dad was back to his ol’ self again; smiling, eating and talking. He was on top of the world.
We are all grateful for Dr. Alisa Kauffman’s professionalism, and punctuality. We are especially thankful for the compassion, care and commitment she has for the elderly.
Thank you Dr. Alisa Kauffman, DMD for my Dad’s bright smile. Seeing Pop happy makes us happy. You are phenomenal!
Molly Barreto & Family”
MOLLY B & FAMILY
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“Dear Dr. Kauffman,
I can’t thank you enough for helping me in a time of crisis!!!
I couldn’t eat or smile until you were able to fix my teeth ! And thank you even more for doing it so quickly.
God bless you and I hope you inspire more of your students at University of Pennsylvania to become housecall dentists.
Sincerely,
Margaret Lipton”
MARGARET LIPTON
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“Dear Dr. Kauffman,
I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for making me new teeth.
I was so depressed when the hospital lost my dentures, but you gave me hope and my dignity back by replacing them with even better fitting dentures than before.
God bless you and I feel blessed that I met you.
Best of luck and your future patients should know that they are in such capable hands.
Sincerely,
Patrick Rogan
NYC”
PATRICK ROGAN
“I am writing to express my sincere thanks and appreciation for your patience and excellent work in making a replacement denture for my mother, who is a resident at Schervier Nursing Care Center in the Bronx.
As you know, the use and safeguarding of dentures for persons with dementia presents significant challenges for the patient, families and nursing homes.
In my mother’s case, her partial denture was lost after about a year in the nursing home. Soon after, she began grinding her teeth involuntarily causing damage to her upper and lower incisors. After a referral was made to you by the nursing home, you expeditiously worked with me, the nursing home staff and my mother to create a replacement denture. In addition, after the replacement denture was completed, you patiently dedicated time to instructing me as well as the nursing home staff on the proper methods for removing, cleaning, re-inserting and, as importantly, safeguarding the denture. My mother is no longer grinding her teeth!
I am so very grateful to you. Bravo!
Carlos M. Diaz”
CARLOS M. DIAZ
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“Dear Dr. Kauffman,
The video you showed us in 3rd year class at UPenn was hilarious. I remember the very groovy background music – that lecture was a blast! The geriatric rotations made me think about what a mobile practice “setting” can be and got me thinking of doing something similar in the future.
As a graduate from the class of 2015, I am currently working with a large Indian Health Service hospital in Fairbanks, Alaska. I have the privilege of being part of a very unique team of dental professionals servicing a patient base of ~34,000 patients spanning more than two dozen villages spanning an area the equivalent of Texas, and reaching as far north into the Arctic. I provide routine and emergency dental care which includes general, endodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics, pediatric, and oral surgery dental care. Prior to graduation I also completed an externship in Barrow, Alaska, which was my starting point for an interesting career. On a daily basis I interact with Community Health Aide Practitioners and Dental Health Aide Therapists (a controversial public health initiative which has immense success in Alaska – feel free to reach out to me if you are interested in learning more). I also coordinate medical evacuations for dental patients living in the remote villages. Furthermore, an important aspect of my job is to travel to remote villages via small bush planes (through harsh Arctic winter weather! And as part of this job I even signed a “death by travel waiver.” ) in order to deliver mobile dental services to village patients, with a focus on pediatric and geriatric segments – one of the most enjoyable aspects of the job is to listen to village elders describe stories of their pre-electricity lives while I perform their denture treatment! It is this aspect of the job that motivates me to become a geriatrician: an often overlooked dental need working with a patient population with both immense amounts of medical/dental needs and wisdom to share with us. As dental needs become much more accessible to a geriatric patient base, the options and affordability for home- and mobile-based dental care is likewise poised to expand, both in private and public sectors”
STEVEN LIN
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“Dear Doctor Kauffman,
I wanted to let you know that our mom passed away this morning. As you know she’d been a long slow decline and today it caught up with her. She passed away with all her teeth but one, thanks to your good care and her good genes! You were a godsend during these last few years when we couldn’t get her to the dentist.
Thank you for your care and kindness.
Sincerely,
Alison and Babette Lazarus”
VICTOR L
“Congratulations on the fabulous article regarding the life-giving work and comic adventures of Dr. Alisa Kauffman. Such a tremendous understanding of the needs of our elderly, and the ability she obviously has to deliver that care, is quite admirable.
I am proud to note that there are many institutions scattered throughout North America, Israel, and beyond, that cater to the elderly and particularly to Holocaust survivors – but none perhaps with the flair of Dr. Kauffman.
Thank you for bringing this all to our attention. May Dr. Kauffman, and those like her, continue their sensitive and so vital work in good health, good strength, and good spirits.”
Gary CharlesteinTaken from the Pennsylvania Gazette, July/August 2017 Edition
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“Dr. Alisa Kauffman is not just an outstanding dentist, but a devoted, caring, and dedicated professional. My 103 year old aunt, Doris (photo is from her 102nd birthday party), required urgent dental care at home, including multiple root extractions in order to remedy an infection and enable her to chew food comfortably and safely. Although Doris was a new patient, Dr. Kauffman rearranged her vacation schedule to ensure that Doris was treated in a timely way. Dr. Kauffman spent time in advance of the visit to make certain she understood my aunt’s health, mental, and psychological condition. She treated Doris in an exceedingly caring manner, with dignity and respect often lacking in today’s fast-paced medical encounters. She has a reassuring and calming presence which is vital for all patients, and most especially for the elderly. She made sure that Doris understood the treatment plan and encouraged her to ask questions. Doris was feeling 100% better the following day. We are very grateful to Dr. Kauffman!”
DORIS
“Alisa Kauffman travels the urban frontier alone. She brings attention to a need for the coordination of comprehensive dental/medical services for the elderly. As the population continues to age, these critical services need to be readily available for non-ambulatory patients.
The challenge is for Penn – the national leader in geriatric care for over 150 years – to better utilize its resources in dentistry, medicine, and research to help the elderly and often home-bound community.”
Marcia Witlin-BasickesTaken from the Pennsylvania Gazette, July/August 2017 Edition
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“I would like to give my highest commendation to Dr. Alisa Kauffman. She came highly recommended to me by my own dentist when I was in need of a dentist who would treat my bed/wheel chair bound husband at home. My husband had suffered traumatic brain injury and profound physical disability as the result of an accident making it impossible to transport him to a dental office.
Dr. Kauffmann was happy to visit my husband at home. Her manner is thorough, knowledgeable and exceedingly professional. She has assured me that should he require extensive dental work, she will coordinate everything for us, which has allayed any anxiety I may have had. She comes to our home on a regular basis which she schedules, to maintain my husband’s oral hygiene.
As a psychologist, I am extremely impressed not only by her professional expertise, but with her extraordinary ability to engage my traumatic brain injured husband. He is always delighted to see her, looks forward to her visits and cooperates fully while she is working on his mouth despite any discomfort he may experience in the process.”
ELIZABETH T. KLONER, PH.D.KNOWLEDGEABLE & PROFESSIONAL.
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“I want to thank Dr. Kauffman for making me look pretty with the beautiful teeth, so I can smile!”
URSULINA PADUVANIWANT TO THANK DR. KAUFFMAN
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“Hello, my name is Richard. I am a client of Dr. Kauffman, who is my dentist. When she did my dental, she set up everything and made it right here in the house! That service is a great thing because I cannot get out.”
RICHARD WEINKAUFSHE DID MY DENTAL, SHE SET UP EVERYTHING
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“Dr. Kauffman,
I am in my 90’s and you made me look younger.
Thank you so much!”
JR
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“I just want to thank you for all the wonderful dentistry you have done for me over the years, You made me feel comfortable by taking so much time explain the procedure you were doing, You are a fantastic qualified geriatric dentist, but equally important an amazing woman.
I wish you a long and happy career.”
DORIS HERINGYOU MADE ME FEEL COMFORTABLE
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“Dr. Kauffman: very professional, you know exactly what you’re doing and her nickname for you is the painless dentist – what more can you ask for?
Thanks again,
Mollie”
MOLLIE
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“Dear Dr. Kauffman,
Thank you for coming to my apartment to get my smile back in order. I thought I would never see a dentist ever again since I have such limited mobility which makes it difficult to get to my dentist. But a visiting dentist who can do all the work in my apartment solved all my worries!!
I also really appreciate that you called my old dentist to coordinate treatment as he originally planned it
I really looked forward to my dental visits, and I could always count on you to come over as promised.
Thank you for listening to all my stories and I am proud to share my BEFORE and AFTER photos with you.
Thank you again for all your excellent work!
William Smith.”
WILLIAM SMITH
“Dr. Kauffman is such a unique person.
Not only is she the best dentist, she brings to the home-visit a feeling of happiness, caring, and makes everyone confident that everything will be ok.
As a geriatric social worker I have made many home-visits with Dr. Kauffman.
My clients (some are bed bound) are sometimes nervous thinking about how a visit could be done by a dentist in the home. From the minute she walks into the bedroom and gives the biggest hello, my clients smile back and I can see they become relaxed and happy and confident to be treated by such a warm person.
I wish all dentists were like Dr Kauffman.
Sasha Greene”
SASHA GREENE" I WISH ALL DENTISTS WERE LIKE DR KAUFFMAN."
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“I have worked with Dr. Kauffman for about 20 years. My name is Harriet Duncan. I am a a nurse at Kingsbridge Heights Nursing Care Center. Dr. Kauffman is a very good dentist. She is very generous and patient. Satisfactory! No complaint! She is very good at working with the staff, with the patients, with everybody. She does a very good job. She is a good dentist!”
HARRIET DUNCANSATISFACTORY! NO COMPLAINT!
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“Thanks for being pro-active Dr. Kauffman. And thanks as well for all to help us deal with her dental/grinding issues for the final years of her life was a great help and comfort to our family. So all of us send you our gratitude, on behalf of Seph, and the entire Melrod family!”
GEORGE MELRODTHANKS FOR BEING PRO-ACTIVE
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“Thanks for publishing the fascinating piece on Dr. Alisa Kauffman [“House Dentist,” May 2017]. It’s alway refreshing to find there are people out there whose work – and attitude toward life – can put a smile on our faces. I hope the writers of the endless letters – pro or con – about our fellow alumnus, Donald Trump, read the article. A good many of them could stand to put a smile on their faces.
Louis R Sernoff C’62 L’65 Delrey Beach, FL
Taken from the Pennsylvania Gazette, July/August 2017 Edition”
Louis R SernoffBE LIKE ALISA
“I enjoyed reading ‘House Dentist’. I appreciate that you [Penn Gazette] highlighted the good work that Penn Alum’s do in their professions, with an eye towards service and underserved communities. I hope you write more articles like that in the future and thank you to Alisa Kauffman and Steven Lin [who was profiled in the sidebar article, “The Protégé”]”
Michael ChenTaken from the Pennsylvania Gazette, July/August 2017 Edition
“I just wanted to say on behalf of Molly Barreto and all of our family we truly appreciate you taking care of Emilio Barreto. He is my grandfather and as is suffering Alzheimer’s and as a result life is difficult and complicated at times. With your help and encouragement he has one less daily struggle and for that I am completely grateful. -Amanda”
AMANDAOne of Emilio Barreto’s grandchildren
“Dearest Alisa,
Thank you for your very sweet email. You made yesterday such a pleasure. I wish everyone I had to deal with in my life could be just like you. You are beyond sweet and lovely.
I wish I could have known you prior to this happening to me.
Thank you again.
Lovingly,
Leslie”
LESLIE
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“Dear Dr. Kauffman,
You made the impossible treatment happen and I have the perfect result. I am eternally grateful for everything you did for me. You are truly a master dentist and there should be more people like you to help others like me!
Best,
Elizabeth Philbin”
ELIZABETH P
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“Thank you Dr. Kauffman for making me feel great again.
Love,
Sarah”
SARAH
“
“Dear Dr. Kauffman,
Thank you so much for taking care of my 92 year old mother’s dental needs. Your professional and compassionate manner allow my mother to remain calm and cooperative while you are working on her. We are so lucky to live in New York where dentists like you exist. I certainly hope you can train others to do what you do, as there is an incredible need for the services that you provide to the geriatric and dementia population. You have such a great insight into this challenging, yet rewarding niche in the dental field that will only continue to increase in demand as our general population ages.
Under your expert care my mother has all her own teeth and a beautiful smile! Finding you was such a blessing. Your understanding of the challenges and needs of our seniors as it pertains to good oral and overall health has helped us immensely in our daily dental care routine. Thank you for all that you do for your patients and their families.”
Evelyn Versace
