By Vernon Freeman Jr. 

What began as a learning opportunity has come full circle for Katie Alvis, R.D.H., B.S.D.H., a Virginia Commonwealth University dental hygiene alumna whose passion for service has led her back to GoochlandCares Free Clinic and Family Services. 

In 2010, Alvis provided care at the clinic through VCU School of Dentistry’s Service Learning program, where senior dental and dental hygiene students get hands-on experience in caring for communities across Virginia, often in safety-net clinics serving areas of significant need. 

“The service learning aspect of my education was crucial,” Alvis said. “My external rotations instilled vital lessons in compassion and empathy. They also inspired and solidified my passion for serving underserved communities.” 

Michelle McGregor, R.D.H., B.S., M.Ed., director of community and collaborative partnerships and associate professor at the School of Dentistry, serves as faculty overseer of the service learning program. She was the dental hygiene program director when Alvis was a student and recalls her transformation vividly. 

“As her faculty advisor, I witnessed her growth from feeling overwhelmed to becoming a focused and determined leader among her peers,” McGregor said. “Katie’s journey reflects VCU School of Dentistry’s broader mission: to educate compassionate, skilled professionals dedicated to improving oral health for all.” 

In 2018, Alvis left private practice to return to GoochlandCares as its dental coordinator. She now works closely with VCU’s dental and dental hygiene students who rotate through the clinic. 

“When this opportunity came along, it just fit to serve the people here in my community,” said Alvis. “I really saw this as an opportunity to do something different and to help people who needed help the most.” 

Katie Alvis, R.D.H., B.S.D.H. (center), is the dental coordinator at the GoochlandCares Free Clinic and Family Services, where she works closely with VCU’s dental students and dental hygiene students like Kacey Knox (left) and Joel Mutambayi (right). (VCU School of Dentistry)

VCU students work under the supervision of Alvis as well as a full-time dentist and dental hygienist who have an affiliate relationship with the school. They gain experience through assisting with services the clinic provides, such as teeth cleanings, fillings, root canals, extractions, dentures, and dental hygiene education. 

“Katie’s role as a mentor and coordinator ensures that students provide valuable care while gaining insights into the barriers faced by underserved populations," McGregor said. “Seeing her facilitate this essential connection between education and community service is deeply gratifying.” 

Beyond hands-on learning, dental students receive valuable lessons in community care  

GoochlandCares Clinic is one of 15 community clinics partnered with VCU as part of the Service Learning program. These efforts are integral to students’ clinical training and enable clinics like GoochlandCares to treat more patients in need. In 2024, VCU dental and dental hygiene students provided approximately 17% of the clinic’s dental care. 

Serving Goochland County and the surrounding region, GoochlandCares offers more than a dozen services, including a community food pantry, a clothes closet, sexual and domestic abuse services, medical care, and dental care.  

As a free and charitable clinic, GoochlandCares also accepts Medicaid, which is invaluable to improving access to care for patients who face challenges accessing regular dental care. 

“The most rewarding part of working with GoochlandCares is collaborating with amazing people who share the same goal: providing services to those in need,” Alvis said. 

Alvis noted that GoochlandCares also relies heavily on volunteers but currently faces a shortage of dental volunteers. 

“During COVID, we saw a significant decline in our volunteer providers, and the numbers have yet to recover,” Alvis said. “We welcome dental professionals who are passionate about making a difference. An increase in volunteers would allow us to help even more people in need of dental care.” 

The Service Learning program allows students like Kacey Knox, a senior dental hygiene student, the opportunity to treat patients at a community-based, private-practice clinic and learn firsthand the needs of the community she is serving. 

"During external rotations, I have the opportunity to refine my skills while making a meaningful impact on the community,” Knox said. “By providing personalized oral health care guidance and addressing questions on maintaining healthy routines, I am able to apply the knowledge I’ve gained in school to real-world situations. These experiences not only help me enhance my clinical abilities but also allow me to contribute to improving the community's overall oral health." 

Knox says working with Alvis has fostered a sense of confidence and growth. 

"She consistently provides insightful and constructive feedback, which has been invaluable in helping me grow professionally,” Knox said. “Receiving tips and guidance from a VCU dental hygiene graduate adds a level of expertise and experience that I truly appreciate.” 

As she was once in their shoes, Alvis deeply appreciates the role VCU dental and dental hygiene students play in improving access to dental care in Goochland and throughout the commonwealth. 

“This clinic gave me so much as a student, and now I have the chance to give back and help others grow, just as I did,” Alvis said. “Their work at service learning sites continues to benefit patients in my community and communities throughout the commonwealth.” 

Read the latest news

A version of this story was published by VCU School of Dentistry