Blog


All Volunteers Welcome!

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Are you interested in joining a Global Dental Relief clinic but aren’t from the United States? No problem! GDR welcomes volunteers from all over the globe on our dental volunteer projects. Each year, roughly ten percent of GDR volunteers come from borders beyond the United States. Global Dental Relief has hosted volunteers from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Hungary, United... read more »

All Things Kentucky with Mark and Becky!

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In the fall of 2020, GDR launched our first domestic clinic in Jenkins, Kentucky. Since then, we've completed a total of seven clinics in this wonderful Appalachian community and treated over 800 patients. Mark Lisagor and Becky Bay, the Dynamic Duo, have already led three trips together this year, with another two scheduled in the spring of this coming year.... read more »

Food Scarcity Program – Fall 2021 Update

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Life has been different for all of us under COVID-19. But, for many in Nepal and other countries where Global Dental Relief works, the virus has led to a constant and desperate struggle to afford basic nutrition for a family. Approximately 20% of the children GDR serves in Nepal and Guatemala are suffering from a shortage of food. These are... read more »

4 REASONS TO VOLUNTEER WITH FAMILY!

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Global Dental Relief welcomes and works with volunteers from a wide range of careers and backgrounds. Beyond the dental field – lawyers, teachers, students and many other professionals join GDR teams across the globe, sharing the common purpose to improve the health of children. Regardless of professional and educational background, studies show that volunteering with your family leads to a... read more »

VOLUNTEER Q&A PT. 6: WENDY COLLMAR

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On this installment of Volunteer Q&A, we’re interviewing Wendy Collmar! Wendy first volunteered with Global Dental Relief in 2018 on a trip to Kenya. Her next clinic was the following year in Nepal. Flash forward to May of 2021, and she was a part of our inaugural Mexico clinic, which also happened to be GDR’s first international clinic since March... read more »

The Happier Dentist Podcast Featuring Peter Vanicek, Hosted by Jason Koh

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Dr. Peter Vanicek, our valued Clinic Coordinator and Trip Leader, is featured on Episode #2 of The Happier Dentist podcast by Jason Koh. The two doctors sit down for an engaging 45-minute conversation featuring stories of life-changing moments on GDR trips. If you’ve never traveled with us and would like to learn more about the experience, this is a perfect... read more »

10 ESSENTIAL TIPS TO FUNDRAISE YOUR GDR TRIP

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Interested in volunteering abroad, but not sure if the project fee fits into your budget? Fundraising is a viable option for those wanting to volunteer their time and expertise on a GDR clinic. We have had many volunteers achieve their fundraising goal and cover a portion - if not ALL - of their project expenses! If you’re new to fundraising,... read more »

ONE MONTH ‘TIL MEXICO!

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We are counting down the days to our first clinic in our new location...the Yucatan Peninsula! The trip is just one month away (May 22, 2021) and will kick off the first of FOUR scheduled trips to Mexico this year. Working in partnership with the local community, we will set up our clinic in the pueblo of Akumal, located 105... read more »

Volunteer Q&A Pt. 5: Peter Vanicek

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For the past decade, Peter Vanicek has been an integral part of GDR’s work! He is dedicated to the mission of GDR and committed to providing free, comprehensive dental care to kids who need it most. Peter wears many hats at Global Dental Relief! He is the Clinic Coordinator, making sure all supplies and dental equipment are properly stocked at... read more »

The Ultimate GDR Pivot

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As 2020 winds down, I reflect on what has been a year of firsts for GDR – our first pandemic, the first time we could not host a dental clinic for 8 months, and the first time we responded to an urgent humanitarian crisis – to feed the kids we serve, our first dental clinics in the U.S. and launching... read more »