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Season of Giving: Honoring NYSDA Members Who Lift Their Communities

This season, we’re proud to spotlight NYSDA members whose generosity, leadership, and unwavering commitment to service extend far beyond the operatory. Each of these dentists embodies what it means to care for others—whether through humanitarian missions, mentorship, community outreach, emergency response, educational support, or simply showing up where they’re needed most.

Throughout New York and around the world, their efforts are improving lives, strengthening communities, and advancing oral health for those who need it most. We invite you to learn more about these four outstanding members and the meaningful impact they make every day.

Dr. James Hudson: A Global Vision for Oral Health

Dr. James Hudson’s career stands as a testament to what compassionate leadership can achieve—locally, globally, and across generations. A prosthodontist by training and a humanitarian at heart, Dr. Hudson has dedicated decades to expanding access to oral health care for vulnerable populations.

His service began in New York City, where he spent 15 years delivering care to children of the working poor through his role on the Board of the Dental Clinics at the Boys Clubs of New York. Those early years shaped his lifelong commitment to using dentistry as a tool for equity and hope.

Following the tragedies of September 11, Dr. Hudson served more than nine months as Tour Commander for the Dental Identification Unit at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. He played a crucial role in identifying victims of both the 9/11 attacks and American Airlines Flight 587—work requiring extraordinary strength, precision, and compassion. Today, he continues that commitment as the Deputy Chief Forensic Dentist for the City of New York.

Driven to create sustainable global impact, Dr. Hudson founded the La Romana Oral Health Initiative in 2011. His vision was ambitious: to provide ongoing, high-quality oral health care to underserved children in the Dominican Republic. In 2016, he formalized that work through World of Smiles Inc., a nonprofit that has since completed 24 outreach missions, established two year-round dental facilities, and partnered with five New York–area dental schools. These clinics—staffed by full-time Dominican dentists—now deliver preventive and comprehensive care to thousands of children each year.

His passion for community extends well beyond dentistry. Dr. Hudson has served twice as an elected member—and once as President—of the Bronxville Board of Education, offering guidance and support that helped strengthen local schools. His professional leadership includes presidencies of the New York Academy of Dentistry, the Greater New York Academy of Prosthodontics, and the American Prosthodontic Society, where he also served as Executive Director.

Whether guiding humanitarian missions, building educational partnerships, responding in moments of crisis, or leading professional organizations, Dr. Hudson exemplifies a lifelong dedication to service—and a belief that every child, everywhere, deserves access to quality oral healthcare.

Dr. Melissa Brown: Creating Community Through Kindness

For Dr. Melissa Brown, giving back is woven into every part of her practice and her life. As an orthodontist serving children and adults, she has built a tradition of service that touches thousands of families in the Southern Tier each year.

Her generosity begins with meeting basic needs. Through regular volunteer shifts with the Food Bank of the Southern Tier and ongoing drives for the Corning Community Food Pantry, Dr. Brown helps ensure that local households have access to essential resources. She organizes sports sponsorships, supports first responder appreciation initiatives, and encourages her entire team to take part in hands-on community service.

Dr. Brown’s practice has become a hub for educational outreach as well. From Career Day presentations to National Children’s Dental Health Month programs, she teaches students how to take charge of their oral health—often sparking early interest in dental careers. She further invests in young people by offering scholarships for patients in grades 6–12, helping them pursue their academic and personal goals.

Her compassion extends to families facing illness and hardship. She has raised funds for Women in Pink, the Josh Palmer Fund, and programs supporting local cancer patients. She sponsors the Children’s Miracle Network annually, participates in the Bampa’s House 5K to support end-of-life care, and donates to organizations that uplift women across the region.

Community connection is at the heart of her work. Whether delivering lunch to teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, providing meals to local first responders, serving ice cream at neighborhood celebrations, or supporting patient-led fundraisers, Dr. Brown ensures her practice remains a source of joy, comfort, and unity.

With every project, every sponsorship, and every act of kindness, Dr. Brown models what it means to be a community anchor: someone who shows up, gives generously, and helps others feel seen, supported, and valued.


 

Dr. Maurice Edwards: A Leader Who Serves on Every Front

For Dr. Maurice Edwards, service is not just something he does—it’s who he is. As NYSDA’s first Black President, an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, an Honorary Police Surgeon with the NYPD, and a volunteer firefighter, Dr. Edwards has built a career defined by compassion, courage, and community leadership.

His commitment to service extends far beyond dentistry. Through Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., he leads outreach efforts across Brooklyn, organizing MLK Jr. Day of Service events that provide meals, clothing, haircuts, and vital health screenings to families in local shelters. He also mentors young men through the Alpha Academy, guiding them toward strong academic and career paths.

Faith and community are central pillars of his life. As an active member of the Knights of Columbus at St. Martha’s Church, he supports food, clothing, and blood drives—quiet efforts that ripple widely throughout the surrounding community.

Dr. Edwards’ impact reaches people in critical moments. As a New York State Troopers P.B.A. Surgeon, he provides care and support to injured troopers and their families year-round. He also contributes annually to Give Kids a Smile, ensuring underserved children receive free dental care and screenings. His dedication to public health was further demonstrated at the Black Men’s Health Festival, where he worked to provide men with the resources they need to lead healthier lives.

His service during one of the nation’s darkest hours remains among his most profound contributions. As part of the dental identification unit following the September 11 attacks, Dr. Edwards helped identify approximately 60% of recovered remains—work requiring both skill and deep emotional strength.

Whether caring for patients in his practice, supporting first responders, uplifting local families, or leading NYSDA, Dr. Edwards embodies a simple but powerful belief: that service is a calling, and every act of kindness strengthens the community we share.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Douglas Schildhaus: Finding Purpose Through Service

For Dr. Doug Schildhaus, a single moment of inspiration became a lifelong mission of compassion. “I was inspired years ago by an Oral Surgeon who would share his mission trip stories at his CE events,” he recalled. “A few months later in 2013, I joined him on my first mission trip to Peru, which was life-changing.”

That trip would set the course for the next decade of Dr. Schildhaus’ life. The following year, he traveled deep into the Peruvian Amazon jungle. When his team leader became ill, Dr. Schildhaus stepped up to lead the group—drawing on his experience as captain of his college wrestling team to guide others through uncertainty. “The rest is history,” he said. “I was next trained by Flying Doctors of America to be a Team Leader. Now, 12 years later, I’ve been leading two mission trips per year and am proud to serve on the Flying Doctors of America Board of Directors.”

Each trip brings new moments of gratitude and inspiration. “Every moment of every trip is inspirational,” he said. “One of the most powerful is when you arrive early in the morning and hundreds of people are lined up waiting to see you. Many wait for hours, and some walk through the night just to be seen.”

As a pediatric dentist, Dr. Schildhaus connects most deeply with children. “The best is getting a hug from a child and parent after a difficult extraction appointment—or when they come back the next day all smiles just to say hi.”

Two moments, in particular, have stayed with him. “I extracted three infected teeth on one little girl in Peru on the first day. The next day, we visited her school to teach oral hygiene. She immediately came up to me, hugged me, grabbed my hand, and took me to her classroom to show me her schoolwork. She spoke no English, but we communicated perfectly—all while holding my hand the entire time.”

He also remembers an elderly woman in El Salvador who arrived unable to speak or open her mouth due to severe pain and swelling. “I worked with our Oral Surgeon and Physicians and agreed she had a life-threatening infection that needed to be addressed immediately,” he shared. “We treated her and provided antibiotics. Two days later, she was healing beautifully and feeling great. The most moving part is that if we hadn’t been there that day, in that particular remote location, we estimate she had only 3–5 days to live.”

The Flying Doctors of America teams provide a full range of care—medical and dental alike. “We have nurses perform triage, then direct patients to different providers,” he explained. “We offer General Medicine, Pediatrics, Ophthalmology, Geriatrics, Physical Therapy, Dental, Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, and Pharmacy. We bring all of our own supplies—dental instruments, eyeglasses, medications—and work side by side with local volunteer interpreters.”

Those experiences abroad continually shape Dr. Schildhaus’ compassion at home. “Each time I return from a mission trip, I have a renewed sense of appreciation for what I have here at both my office and at home,” he said. “It takes a special type of person to volunteer their time and finances to join a mission team. That’s one of the reasons these trips are so enjoyable—it’s always a group of caring and like-minded professionals.”

His commitment to organized dentistry mirrors that same spirit of service. As Co-Chair of Give Kids a Smile in Nassau County, Dr. Schildhaus helps unite over 300 dental volunteers to provide care for more than 1,000 children each year. “It’s the most rewarding day of the year,” he said. “I love working with all levels of the tripartite and striving to make a difference. I’ve seen positive results from our work—especially in advocacy and policy change. This work must continue to guide the future of dental health, which is essential to overall health.”

When asked what keeps him motivated, his answer is simple: gratitude and joy. “I love what I do, and I’m so grateful to be able to continue doing it,” he said. “Another joy is sharing the experience with others and seeing how it affects them. Some of my teammates have joined me year after year, and we’ve developed very strong friendships.”

And at the heart of it all is his philosophy on giving. “Giving back in life is what it’s all about. Life is too short not to,” he said. “I enjoy discussing this with students at ASDA events. Yes, you’ll make money as a dentist—but nothing feels better than showing your gratitude and giving back to the profession that has given so much to you. Helping someone in need is one of the most powerful acts we can do, and the rewards are priceless.”

He smiled as he shared his favorite quote—words that capture his purpose perfectly:

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”