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Advancing Collaboration Across the Middle East

The D. Walter Cohen, DDS Middle East Center for Dental Education

In a region divided by conflict, Dr. D. Walter Cohen believed that education could accomplish what politics often could not — bringing people together through learning, healing, and a shared commitment to improving lives.

A Vision Becomes Reality

On June 1, 1997, a Dr. Cohen's vision became reality with the dedication of the D. Walter Cohen Middle East Center for Dental Education at the Hebrew University–Hadassah School of Dental Medicine.

Relationships That Transcended Differences

Inspired by Dr. Walter Cohen's belief that education could unite people across borders, the Center welcomed dentists from throughout the Middle East to Jerusalem for advanced clinical training, research, and professional exchange. Participants learned alongside one another, sharing knowledge, experiences, and a common commitment to improving oral health.

Education as Common Ground

At a time when political tensions often overshadowed opportunities for cooperation, the Center became a place where relationships were built through shared purpose and mutual respect. Dentists returned home with new skills, stronger professional networks, and a deeper appreciation for the power of collaboration.

More than two decades later, the D. Walter Cohen Middle East Center remains a powerful reminder that education can transcend borders. Its legacy lives on through the relationships it fostered, the professionals it inspired, and Dr. Walter Cohen’s enduring belief that dentistry can be a force for understanding, collaboration, and peace.

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The D. Walter Cohen, DDS Middle East Center for Dental Education

The D. Walter Cohen Middle East Center of Dental Education was established at the Hebrew University–Hadassah School of Dental Medicine on June 1, 1997, with a bold vision: to bring dentists from across the Middle East to Jerusalem for advanced education and training.

The Center was founded on the belief that dentistry could serve as a bridge for peace—fostering understanding, collaboration, and professional relationships across political and cultural divides. By equipping dentists with advanced clinical and educational skills, the program strengthened oral health care in their home countries while promoting collaborative research and lasting partnerships throughout the region.

Dental Career Training for Young Adults with Disabilities

In partnership with AKIM Israel, the Hebrew University–Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Henry Schein Cares,  and Alpha Omega established a pioneering supported employment program that prepares young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities for careers in dentistry. 

Through two years of hands-on training, participants gain practical skills for auxiliary dental roles, leading to meaningful employment while promoting inclusion, independence, and opportunity

D. Walter Cohen Ambassadorship to Israel

Established to honor the legacy of Dr. D. Walter Cohen, this educational program provided selected third- and fourth-year dental students with a unique opportunity to experience firsthand the impact of Alpha Omega’s philanthropic work throughout Israel.

Participants visited the Hebrew University–Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, the Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine at Tel Aviv University, community clinics, hospitals, and private dental practices. The experience fostered leadership, professional growth, and a deeper understanding of Israel’s dental education system while strengthening the lifelong connection between future dental leaders and the global Alpha Omega family.

The Alpha Omega US Dental Foundation

Recognizing the need for a new generation of dental professionals in Israel, Alpha Omega members set out in the 1950s to help establish the country’s first dental school. Their vision became a reality in 1966 with the opening of the Hebrew University–Hadassah School of Dental Medicine.

To support this effort and future charitable initiatives, the Alpha Omega US Dental Foundation was established in 1969 as the organization’s philanthropic arm. The Foundation later led a successful campaign to help create Israel’s second dental school, the Maurice and Gabriella Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine at Tel Aviv University.

Today, the Foundation continues to support the dental schools and dental centers in Israel, student scholarships, humanitarian programs, and other charitable initiatives in the United States, Israel, and around the world, carrying forward Alpha Omega’s commitment to service and philanthropy.

Smiles Against Terror Program

During the Second Lebanon War, Alpha Omega launched the Smiles Against Terror Program to provide free dental care to individuals who suffered severe injuries and disabilities as a result of the conflict.

The program supported individuals with disabilities exceeding 60%, helping restore oral health, function, and quality of life during their recovery.

Supporting Inclusive Dental Care

Alpha Omega US Dental Foundation funded a Radiology Room for a new Panoramic X-ray machine designed for people with disabilities.

The equipment and room are part of the Robert I. Schattner Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities at the Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine.

This state-of-the-art facility provides accessible, optimal care for children and adults with disabilities while training dental professionals to care for the most vulnerable population.

A call to action

Tree of Peace

The first Tree of Peace sculpture was placed in 2007 at Hebrew University’s School of Dental Medicine, marking the close collaboration between Hebrew University and Al-Quds University and the shared vision of using the oral health profession as a vehicle for building relationships and understanding throughout the region and the world.

In 2011, the Tree of Peace arrived in the United States, becoming the second installation worldwide, at A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health — a testament to the school’s commitment to global peace and a symbol of the collaboration between medicine, education, and the pursuit of peaceful coexistence worldwide.

Temple University’s Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry in Philadelphia became the third dental school to install the sculpture, a steadfast reminder of the ongoing effort to build a lasting legacy of global peace through dentistry.

The fourth installation, on the campus of Al-Quds University, continued that legacy: it opened avenues for dental professionals, educators, and students to transcend political and religious barriers, using oral health as a catalyst to improve quality of life for people of diverse nationalities.

The fifth installation, at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, was dedicated to Dr. Walter Guralnick, professor emeritus of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Dr. R. Bruce Donoff, former dean of the school. It commemorates the active engagement of Harvard’s students and faculty in global initiatives and reflects the belief that education, cultural exchange, and mutual respect can build a more inclusive, compassionate, and harmonious world.

Haiti Relief Program

Following the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Alpha Omega mobilized support to help restore access to critical dental and oral healthcare services for affected communities.

The initiative provided dental supplies, clinical care, and support for rebuilding efforts, helping strengthen Haiti’s oral health infrastructure and expand access to care for the future.

Expanding Alpha Omega's Philanthropic Reach

The Alpha Omega Foundation broadened its international impact by supporting programs that advanced dental education, humanitarian care, and professional collaboration across the region.

Funding supported a broad network of institutions and community partners, including Israeli dental schools, Rambam Medical Center, Dental Volunteers Israel, Beit Issie Shapiro, Save a Child’s Heart, Jewish homes in Los Angeles and Washington, DC, and community organizations throughout Israel and North America.

The Alpha Omega Centennial Fund

The Alpha Omega Centennial Fund was established in 2002, five years ahead of the organization’s 100th anniversary in 2007.

The goal was to build the Foundation’s corpus, advancing its commitment to leadership, philanthropy, education, and service while supporting initiatives that strengthen the future of the dental profession and the global Jewish community

A call to action

Advancing Collaboration Across the Middle East

In 1997, Alpha Omega endowed the The D. Walter Cohen, DDS Middle East Center for Dental Education at Hebrew University to promote peace through dental education, collaborative research, and cross-cultural partnership.

The Adopt-A-Soviet-Dentist Program

Alpha Omega launched an urgent and successful fundraising campaign to retrain Soviet immigrant dentists in Israel at the Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine at Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University – Hadassah School of Dental Medicine.

Nearly $500,000 was raised, enabling 350 dentists from the former Soviet Union to complete the retraining required to practice in Israel. This paved the way for their integration into their new homeland of Israel.

Expanding Global Care and Training

As the Foundation’s international reach grew, it invested in programs that expanded access to care, strengthened dental education, and improved specialized treatment throughout the region.

These initiatives included launching the Dental Peace Corps in Israel, funding a mobile dental clinic serving underserved communities in Morocco, establishing an international student internship program, and supporting the Rambam Maxillofacial Clinic in Haifa.

Maxillofacial Prosthetic Rehabilitation Program

Established following the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Alpha Omega members began training Israeli maxillofacial teams and dentists at Sloan Kettering Hospital and MD Anderson Clinic in the United States to help rehabilitate wounded Israeli soldiers.

Retraining Russian Dentists

As thousands of Jewish families left the Soviet Union in search of greater freedom and opportunity, many dental professionals faced significant barriers to practicing in their new countries.

Alpha Omega responded by creating educational and retraining programs in Israel that helped immigrant dentists update their skills, meet licensing requirements, and successfully continue their careers while integrating into new communities.