Dental Humanitarian Project in China
A group of volunteers representing the Academy of LDS Dentists (several of whom were not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) recently returned from China where they performed dental treatment and also cleft lip/palate surgery on hundreds of children. Twenty-three people went on the humanitarian trip, including dentists, hygienists, a surgical team that included a plastic surgeon and nurse anesthetist , and other support personnel. One thing that made this visit unique and successful was that so many of the participants spoke Chinese. On this last trip, seven were fluent in Mandarin -- most of these being return missionary dentists who had served in Taiwan. People on the trip were from diverse locations including Idaho, Illinois, California, Texas, Utah, Wyoming, Iowa, and two from Beijing.
They were warmly welcomed by Suqian City leaders, including the Deputy Mayor, head of the health department, and director of the local Red Cross organization. A local dental clinic turned its facilities (ten dental units and the operating room) over to these visiting clinicians from the U.S. for one week. In additional to dental/medical treatment, the group taught modern techniques to other dentists at chairside and in the operating room. They also gave seminars to local practitioners. The project had the support of dental specialists from Nanjing Medical University School of Dentistry (also called Stomatological Hospital of Jiangsu Province), including oral and maxillofacial surgeons and plastic surgeons. Besides the plastic surgery procedures, much general dentistry was done. Several general dentists went, in addition to an endodontist, prosthodontist, and an orthodontist.
This is the third year they have gone to Suqain, a small city that is about a three hour bus ride north-west of Nanjing in Jiangsu Province. In the next 18 months, more visits to do similar things are scheduled -- to Suqian again and to other cities in China. The group has brought some Chinese friends made on these trips to Utah for “professional exchanges” to learn more about our dental/medical practices but also our State and our culture. Leaders of the project were Dr. Karl Koerner of Draper, Utah and Dr. Adam Hodges of Twin Falls, Idaho.
