What are the goals of Global Dental Relief?
Our goals are to provide quality, comprehensive dental care and oral health education to underserved children around the world, and to transform the lives of our volunteers through service.
Katy with a patient in Cambodia
What is the importance of showing dental health globally?
Many people don’t realize how much dental health impacts one’s overall health and life. A child with a toothache often can’t eat well, sleep well, or concentrate in school. When a child has a healthy mouth, his/her whole life improves.
What makes Global Dental Relief unique from other dental program organizations?
We are committed long-term to the children that we treat. Every one to two years, we return to the same schools ensuring that every student six to 15 years of age has a beautiful smile and has learned good habits to maintain a healthy mouth for years to come. Many dental service trips fix the immediate needs of their patients, but never come back to that community.
Global Dental Relief is invested in our sustainable public health model and always looking for ways to improve it.
What do you love most about your job?
I most love leading clinics overseas, because my favorite part of any job has always been working on the ground with locals and witnessing the direct impact of an organization’s work. I also love connecting with our wonderful volunteers from diverse backgrounds around the world.
Katy reading in Guatemala with our 100,000th child served
What does a regular day at Global Dental Relief look like for you?
Coordinating with staff, emailing our partners in the field, analyzing the budget, and planning for future clinics.
How have your previous work experiences helped you in your current role?
Katy celebrating the completion of another clinic in Guatemala
Living and working in Guatemala, studying abroad in Ecuador, and participating in numerous humanitarian service trips overseas has helped me better understand how to effectively work with local partners and foster authentic relationships and experiences. I’ve learned that sustainable, effective programs encourage local input and build local capacity.
What kind of skills do you think are valuable when joining a company such as Global Dental Relief?
Teamwork, flexibility, cultural competency, and a sense of humor.
Why do you think volunteerism is so important in today’s day in age?
Volunteering overseas allows a traveler to be immersed in the local culture and make a significant impact in the life of another human being. Voluntourism combines traveling, community service and provides a much richer experience than just being a tourist. I think most people who travel overseas want an intimate, authentic experience and voluntourism can provide just that.
Katy on safari with a volunteer in Kenya
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Cuba has been on my list for a while. I want to explore the urban and rural areas, hang out with the locals, and be immersed in the culture - the food, music, dancing, and the locals’ perspective on history.