The board of St Apollonia Dental Clinic and Dr. Norma Desjardins are pleased to announce the following leadership transition as well as provide a Festival of Trees update.
As of June Julie Tucci is the new executive director of St Apollonia Dental Clinic. Previously Tucci had served as scheduling coordinator, and her role quickly grew to practice manager at the clinic. Tucci a native of Presque Isle, served in this role for 10-plus years.
Tucci is an April 2022 graduate of the Hanley Leadership Development Course (HLD XV). Since its creation in late 2007, nearly 400 leaders have taken part in Maine’s unique statewide Health Leadership Development course. Each year HLD brings together a diverse mix of experienced leaders from a wide range of health and healthcare settings and professions to build their individual collaborative leadership skills and prepare them to lead efforts aimed at improving quality and expanding access to affordable care. While these dedicated individuals come from different backgrounds and communities, they share a deep commitment to making a difference here in Maine. Julie was a voice for improving oral healthcare in Maine, while representing Maine’s northernmost area, the County.
Tucci currently serves as secretary of Maine Oral Health Centers Alliance, a group of free standing (non FQHC) non-profit dental clinics operating throughout the state. The alliance seeks to improve oral health outcomes for all of Maine’s citizens. In addition to SADC, the alliance includes Jesse Albert Memorial Dental Center in Bath, Community Dental in Portland with four satellite offices, Kennebec Valley Family Dentistry in Augusta, Waterville Community Dental in Waterville and Mainely Teeth in Southern Maine.
St Apollonia serves children, teens and young adults. As such, the clinic is also a partner in the Children’s Oral Health Network of Maine, where Tucci participates actively in bi-weekly meetings and work sessions focused on finding and implementing innovative oral healthcare delivery methods.
She has been instrumental in the development of the virtual dental home in Aroostook County. Tucci works closely with Caribou Community School nurses to ensure that children who don’t have a dental home can have preventive dental work provided for them at school. This work is part of the Maine Dental Connection and takes place in HeadStart centers as well. St Apollonia has been an oral health care partner with Aroostook County Action Program for many years, helping to provide dental exams and follow up care for children enrolled in HeadStart.
Prior to this transition, Dr. Desjardins had been the executive director since the clinic’s inception in 2011. She founded the nonprofit clinic with the help of her husband Paul and several hand-picked community partners who had an interest in improving the oral health of our youngest citizens. Many foundations, organizations and private donors contributed to SADC in the early years, including the Stephen & Tabitha King Foundation, the Presque Isle Rotary Club, individual donors and many, many other supporters.
Over the years, St Apollonia has grown from one dental operatory to six operatories, a centrally delivered nitrous oxide system, digital radiography, and modern dental equipment. Even more importantly, Dr. Desjardins credits SADC’s dedicated dental team for providing the best possible dental services in a caring, compassionate environment for our Aroostook County children. Dr. Desjardins now serves as a consultant for the clinic. She and Paul will continue to be elves at the clinic’s major annual fundraiser, the Festival of Trees.After a decades long career, Dr. Desjardins looks forward to more fully focusing on her family and catching up on goals to travel the world with Paul. She notes that it’s been particularly rewarding to have enjoyed a career of both private practice dentistry and establishing a nonprofit clinic.
St Apollonia Dental Clinic’s 10th annual Festival of Trees will be held on December 6-8 at Northern Maine Community College. With all of the tree spots already filled by local businesses it promises to be another stunning event. Be sure to mark your calendars and check our Facebook page for Festival hours. Look for a QR Code coming soon with a link to “pre-register” your tickets in order to spend less time in line. We hope to celebrate the Christmas Season with you at the 10th Annual Festival of Trees.
