Do Good International

In terms of gross national income, the United States is in the top three nations. This means there are 189 countries in the world making less per household than the average U.S. family does. Although there are many needs here in America (as evidenced in last May’s Do Good issue of Dentaltown Magazine), this time around we’ve decided to focus on international charitable dentistry.

Being a dentist isn’t easy, but as a dentist you have an incredible opportunity to use your skills and talents for good, which is why most of us joined the dental profession in the first place.

Maybe volunteering in the U.S. or abroad isn’t something you’ve thought about before or maybe it’s been something on your to-do list. Either way, Dentaltown has you covered. For this section, we’ve talked to charitable dentists ranging from the dental student who wanted to spend his spring break doing something more purposeful than sitting on a beach (see page 94), to the man who dedicated the last 30 years to building a health-care infrastructure in Haiti (see page 98). Whether you have just a few days to give or an entire lifetime, there are countless opportunities to do good.

We know the process can be overwhelming to some, so we’ve compiled resources you might need. Not sure where to go? Check out “Find a Volunteer Opportunity” on page 86. Not sure how to plan or what to bring? We’ve got your back with “You Should Know: Before You Go” on pages 80 and “Dr. Gordon Christensen on Preparing for a Humanitarian Service Trip” on page 82. Need inspiration? …Well, we think the whole section might do the trick. Keep us updated on your adventures with charitable dentistry by posting your discussions on the Dentaltown.com message boards.

Inside This Section
80     You Should Know: Before You Go
82     Dr. Gordon Christensen on Preparing for a Humanitarian Service Trip
Dr. Douglas Carlsen interviews Dr. Gordon Christensen
86     Find a Volunteer Opportunity – the ADA Volunteer Database
88     Dental Volunteers in Nepal by Laurie Mathews
Global Dental Expeditions trip organizer discusses how a nonprofit organization plans a mission trip and what it’s like from the leader’s point of view.
92     Mission in Mexico
Dr. Thomas Giacobbi interviews Dr. Jerome Smith
94     More Than One Reason to Go by Dr. Taylor Wilkens
96     Want a Bucket-List Vacation? Try This!
Dr. Douglas Carlsen interviews Dr. Akbarali Thobhani
98     Taken with the Need by Chelsea Knorr
Jeremiah Lowney was awarded the ADA Humanitarian Award for 2011 for his extensive work with the Haitian Health Foundation.
102    ClearCorrect’s Next Phase by Benjamin Lund
104    You Can Care About We Care by Chelsea Knorr
106    Smile Grenada

Also focusing on charitable dentistry
26     Second Opinion: Why You Can’t Treat the Poor by Dr. Nareg Apelian
124    Hygiene and Prevention: Basic Needs Abroad


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