ERIE, PA – Officials with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) today paid tribute to a steadfast community supporter and longtime LECOM ally by dedicating the school’s Dental Offices to the late state Rep. Florindo “Flo” Fabrizio.
Members of Fabrizio’s family joined LECOM Board Chair Marlene Mosco, LECOM President John M. Ferretti, DO, and other LECOM representatives this morning at the school’s Dental Offices for a dedication ceremony. Two special plaques recognizing Fabrizio for his service to LECOM and to the community were unveiled and will now hang in the lobby of the dental facility.
An Erie native, Fabrizio was an active, dynamic public servant who represented residents in Pennsylvania’s 2nd Legislative District for 16 years. While in office, he was a tireless advocate for LECOM – “a stalwart friend” – and was instrumental in securing necessary funding for the school’s state-of-the-art Dental Offices. Fabrizio died in July after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
“Rep. Fabrizio was a man of integrity, compassion and determination who was fiercely loyal to his hometown and his community. A true visionary, his commitment to education, including LECOM and its students, was invaluable,” said Mosco. “We’re honored to recognize Rep. Fabrizio’s unwavering support and dedication in this way on our campus.”
The LECOM Dental Offices are a community outreach service of the LECOM School of Dental Medicine in Bradenton, Florida. Pennsylvania, including the Erie region, has been identified as a dental provider shortage area, leading to inadequacies in dental care for individuals and families who are unable to find affordable treatment options, especially for children.
LECOM opened its Dental Offices in the former Lord Technology Park at 2000 W. Grandview Blvd. in April 2015 after a nearly 12-month, $5 million rehabilitation. Each year 50 fourth-year students from the LECOM School of Dental Medicine spend 48 weeks gaining clinical experience at the Erie facility. Working under the direct supervision of licensed dentists, students provide affordable total comprehensive care to qualified patients who might otherwise be unable to cover the cost of such treatment.