By SALINA POST
A local dentist has been selected to honor a first responder with a new smile.
Dr. Kate Gross from New Horizons Dental Care in Salina was selected to represent Kansas in Smiles for America. Across the country, one dentist in each state has donated his/her talents to transform the smile of a first responder or other hero in honor of the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
“Being a part of the inaugural Smiles for America program makes me feel incredibly honored, and the best part is being able to nationally recognize a true American hero from someone in my community!” Gross said.
Gross selected Brandon Cochran, the Lincoln County Ambulance Service director, as the Kansas Smiles for America hero. Cochran has been a public servant for 27 years, serving as an EMT, firefighter, sheriff’s deputy, corrections officer, and ambulance service worker in both Lincoln and Ottawa counties. His leadership and service within the community, led him to recently be chosen as the ambulance director in Lincoln County.
When he was informed that he had been selected, Cochran noted, with great humility, that other people might be more deserving to be the hero from Kansas.
“It’s pretty amazing,” Cochran said, “it’s quite an honor being selected, given there’s only 50 people being chosen.”
According to a news release from New Horizons Dental Care, dental work on all the heroes was expected to be completed so they would have their new smiles by the 20th anniversary of 9/11 on Saturday.
“I am honored to be a part of providing our American heroes across the country the freedom to smile with confidence. Smiles for America is a unique and fitting way of doing good for Brandon and so many others. It is one small way that I can say thank you for all they do for us,” Gross said.