Granger, IN – James Douglas, DDS from The Dental Center of Granger donated his time and talents to provide free dental care to 121 people in the earthquake-ravaged country of Haiti.
Dr. Douglas, on a mission trip led by Dr. James Wierman from Dowagiac, Michigan, spent a week in the small town of Laegone, Haiti, which was near the epicenter of the catastrophic 2010 earthquake.
The two doctors, along with two nurses and three assistants provided dental and medical care to Haitians in desperate need, including over $10,000 worth of vaccines.
With support from two assistants, his 17-year-old daughter Makaela and his friend and philanthropist, Tom Dalton, Dr. Douglas provided dental treatment to 121 patients in only five day.
Dental Care Alliance provided supplies along with donations from other dentists, a local dental supply company, and a philanthropic foundation. Midway Dental also built a portable ultrasonic kit, a necessary item because there was no running water where they worked.
According to Dr. Douglas, “There is still much to be done in Haiti, there is a steady stream of volunteers going to Haiti daily, and I know the people of Haiti appreciate everyone’s generosity.”
To learn more about Dr. Douglas’ trip to Haiti, read his narrative at www.grangerdentist.com.
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Founded in 1991, DCA is one of the largest multi-branded dental support organizations in the U.S. with more than 320 affiliated practices in 20 states. DCA-affiliated practices provide patients with a wide range of dental services including general dentistry, endodontics, oral surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, and periodontics. DCA provides dentists with clinical autonomy, career satisfaction, and growth opportunities by reducing day-to-day administrative responsibilities so they can focus on providing the best clinical care to each patient.
As a dentist that is actively engaged in entrepreneurship and leadership programs, I have seen many different businesses respond to this unprecedented crisis that we are all living through. DCA, thanks to its strong leadership, acted much more rapidly to COVID-19 than others and has continued to lead the way for affiliated offices more effectively than, in my opinion, any individual or group of dental practices.
Having a support center that is constantly evaluating the situation and guiding us how to respond and communicate to our teams has been key to navigating this crisis. I believe that, due to the immediate response and ongoing direction we are receiving from the support center, DCA offices will come out of this environment much stronger. From support on HR issues to working with clinical leadership to document the new PPE and infection control protocols that we will implement, the guidance from DCA has helped our office stay way ahead of the industry.
Additionally, knowing that the economic burdens that come with this type of event have been eased by DCA’s strong industry partnerships, breadth of knowledge and access to capital allow us to focus and respond as positively as possible to imminent situations, rather than react in ways that would not be beneficial for the long-term.
