Local Dentist Gives Back to Area School Children

NEWBURGH – The Newburgh Enlarged City School District has numerous community volunteers and civic leaders that take time away from their busy schedules to come in and devote time to scholars. Dr. Gina Prokosch-Cook has played an integral part in the school community for the last twenty years. She has a local family dentistry practice in the Town of New Windsor where many current students are patients. As a proud Newburgh Free Academy alumni, class of 1986, Dr. Prokosch-Cook has always believed in giving back to the school district however she could. For the last two decades, she has come in and presented fun and interactive dental hygiene assemblies to students in all grades and loves every minute of it.

She started presenting to students’ years ago at the previous Washington Street Pre-K Center in the City of Newburgh, where she fell in love with the excitement and curiosity of some of the school district’s tiniest scholars. The month of February is significant to Dr. Prokosch-Cook, as it is National Dental Health Month, so she schedules a majority of her visits during this month every year. This year she has visited Gardnertown Elementary, Horizons on the Hudson Elementary, and Meadow Hill School presenting to hundreds of students on the importance of taking care of teeth and gums. Through large visual aid props and her stuffed crocodile toy, she demonstrates the proper way to care for teeth in a way that students can understand and get excited about. At the very end of every presentation, Dr. Prokosch-Cook reminds students, “when you go home, make sure you show your mom and dad what you’ve learned” and “kiss your brain for being so smart”!