On Saturday, 11 February, to mark the 20th anniversary of the special rehabilitative dentistry department for disabled patients, an award ceremony was held in the “Rino Nicolosi” conference hall of the S. Marta and S. Venera Hospital in Acireale. The ceremony marked the presentation of a scholarship for rehabilitative implantology in disabled patients.
Scholarship “H.R.H. Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duchess of Calabria and Palermo”.
The exemplary work of the team led by Dr. Riccardo Spampinato had previously benefited from support by the Order, which helped ensure the continuity of services during the pandemic.
Dr. Rosario Cunsolo, Medical Director of the Acireale Hospital, and Dr. Maurizio Lanza, General Director of ASP Catania, welcomed H.R.H. Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Grand Prefect, upon her arrival at the hospital. She was accompanied by the Noble Antonio di Janni, Vice-Delegate for Sicily, Commander Avv. Antonino Amato, representative for Catania and its Province as well as the event organizer, and Knight Massimo Putrino.
The day began with the reading of a message from the Hon. Alessandra Locatelli, Minister for Disabilities. This was followed by speeches from the Hon. Gaetano Galvagno, President of the Sicilian Regional Assembly (ARS), the Hon. Luca Sammartino, Vice-President of the Sicilian Region, Dr. Giovanna Volo, Regional Councilor for Health, the Hon. Nicola D’Agostino, Member of the VI ARS Commission, and His Most Reverend Excellency Mons. Antonino Raspanti, Bishop of Acireale and President of the Sicilian Episcopal Conference.
At 11:00 AM, the scholarship was awarded to Dr. Giovanni Di Giacomo, who will focus on developing implantology for disabled patients. H.R.H. Prince Carlo of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, Head of the Royal House and Grand Master, also joined via videoconference. He praised the department’s work and confirmed the ongoing support of the Royal Family and the Constantinian Order for this humanitarian project carried out by the special rehabilitative dentistry department.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the head of the department, Dr. G. Riccardo Spampinato — Director of the Special Rehabilitative Dentistry Unit (UOC) at ASP Catania — took the floor to retrace the department’s twenty-year journey and to thank the Order for its constant support and generous gesture.
Immediately following the conference, H.R.H. Princess Beatrice presented Dr. Spampinato with a medal from the Sicily delegation. The medal features the effigies of Princesses Maria Carolina and Maria Chiara on one side, and the Sicilian eagle with the Bourbon coat of arms on the other.
