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The Maasai Dental Clinic - Our Flagship Location

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Our Clinic

The Maasai Dental Clinic was established by Dr. Ray and Gail Damazo adjacent to the world-famous Maasai Mara National Game Park in Kenya, East Africa. The Maasai Dental Clinic is sponsored and funded by WHDO, a US non-profit humanitarian organization.

Located in a vastly underserved area, the clinic is for the benefit of the 50,000 Maasai people.

The clinic has provided free dentistry on the Mara since 2008. It has been served by licensed dentists and hygienists from all over the world, driven by passion to “give back.” Volunteer Dr. Brian Griffith says, “It was absolutely my pleasure to be at the clinic for 5 weeks. I’ve traveled a lot and it was the best experience ever. It almost feels like home!” He’s returned 3 times.

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Maasai Teaching Center

Completed in February, 2018, The Maasai Teaching Center (MTC) is the perfect addition to our clinic campus. It houses our community service programs as well as facilitating both teaching and learning opportunity for our volunteers. We like to think of it as a place to inspire personal, professional and community growth.

Program Director Mandy McGill RDH administers our New Cavities Prevention Program and Momma Baby Oral Care Program through the MTC.

Our Dental Health & Well-Being Project is taught around the 4 tables in the study area. These ongoing Health and Wellness English Language classes prove to be lively and fun for both teacher and students. Additionally, level 1 English conversation classes are available two days a week. 

One of the highlights of the MTC is the fully equipped commercial kitchen. This beautiful kitchen offers us the capacity to provide meals to our volunteers and staff as well. 

“I love the cross cultural exchange I’ve experienced in the teaching center,” says Pam Libby Director. “It’s satisfying to see Maasai individuals and volunteers from all over the world come together and learn from each other.”

We encourage volunteers to lead discussions regarding special interests to the community here at the MTC. We are honored to have Maasai elders come and share their views on Maasai history and current trends impacting the lifestyle of this unique tribe of Kenya. The Maasai Teaching Center is the result of generosity and hard work. We are profoundly appreciative to the Wyss Foundation for their donation of funds. We are grateful for the vision of both Ray Damazo and Jim Libby who MADE IT HAPPEN!.

Staff

Carla Caldwell

After assisting the WHDO Board of Directors with strategic planning in 2017, and visiting the Maasai Dental Clinic in 2018 with her husband, Tim, Carla accepted the position of Interim Executive Director to assist the board in meeting  new challenges and opportunities facing the organization. She views her varied professional experiences as educator, minister and nonprofit leader as a tapestry of life-long learning, faith in action, and joy through community building.

Carla and Tim live in Port Townsend, Washington, an idyllic Victorian seaport on the Olympic Peninsula where six generations of their family have thrived.

Carla

Carla Caldwell, MDiv

Executive Director

Mandy McGill

Mandy’s lifelong love of travel and sense of adventure have taken her around the world. She spends her time at home with her family in a ‘magical’ mountain community where the outdoor lifestyle is a perfect fit.

Mandy graduated from University of Manitoba School of Dental Hygiene and has experience working in unique environments including practices in both urban and rural settings, and for the Department of National Defence. She is an advocate and a dedicated member of the dental community and has volunteered for several organizations, including serving as a board director for the British Columbia Dental Hygiene Association. Currently, Mandy works for a provincial health authority in British Columbia, Canada. In this role, she facilitates public health disease prevention programs and education.

Mandy is driven by passion to share her knowledge and skills in a global capacity with a vision of creating sustainable prevention programs worldwide. In 2018, she participated in the development and launch of WHDO’s community-based oral health education programs.

Highlights of her engagement with WHDO have been the growth and inspiration gained from new friendships built and a rewarding connection to a global community.

Mandy

Mandy McGill, RDH

Program Director

David Gonzalez

David joined the WHDO team in July 2020 as the Director of Finance.

David Gonzalez

David Gonzalez

Director of Finance

Lesley Cole

Lesley joined the WHDO team in July 2020 as the Director of Marketing & Development.

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Lesley Cole

Director of Marketing & Development

Board Members

John Barrett, DDS

John accepted the role of President in September 2019. He has been associated with WHDO since 2007 when plans for the clinic were being developed. He helped fund the effort by acquiring a Rotary global grant for purchase of dental equipment and cabinetry for Maasai Dental Clinic. He continues to be very proud of staff, patients and volunteers for the fact that equipment and the entire facility is not only still functional but is in excellent shape with minimal repairs over the years.

John is a graduate of Tulane University. After a stint in the US Navy as a pilot during the Viet Nam War, he attended Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas. Graduating in 1977, he took a one-year GP residency in Portland, Oregon at the Veterans Hospital and then created Dentistry Northwest in the rural town of Port Hadlock, Washington, restoring a Victorian home to be his office. He has cared for and continues to care for countless numbers of patients embracing high tech tools, procedures and concepts.

John helped start a Rotary club in 1982 in his town and has been a member ever since. He has enjoyed sponsoring and conducting numerous humanitarian projects over the years in places such as SE Asia, South America, Honduras and, of course, Africa.

In addition to the chairing the board of WHDO he is president of the board of the local teen center and is board vice president of the Northwest School of Wooden Boat building – an accredited vocational school of higher learning.

John enjoys spending time with his five children, mountain bike riding, downhill skiing, flying his airplanes and working on various projects in his workshop.

Barrett

John Barrett, DDS

President

David Rempel, DDS

Dr. David Rempel was born and raised in Canada. He moved to Loma Linda, California in 1990 to put his wife through the Loma Linda Foreign Graduate program at the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. They raised two children and his wife established her dental practice. He returned to school and graduated from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in 2004.

He expects to retire from practicing dentistry for financial remuneration within the next two years. His retirement plan is to spend six months a year doing missionary and humanitarian dentistry.

He worked at the Maasai Dental Clinic for the month of February, 2013, and is scheduled to return there to work the month of June, 2015. He has two grown children, and enjoys fishing and cycling.

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David Rempel, DDS

Vice President

Patricia Benca, DDS

Dr. Pat Benca became involved with the World Health Dental Organization as a result of a long family friendship with the original founders, Dr. Ray and Gail Damazo.  She has been volunteering at the Maasai Dental Clinic in Kenya since 2013, bringing with her both her longtime hygienist, Nancy, and her daughter, Dr. Laura Benca.

Not only does her family feel a deep connection to the work they have been doing in Kenya at the clinic, but the patients at Benca Dentistry are involved as well. They constantly ask for updates on the clinic and when we last visited.

Pat is originally from central Illinois and is a graduate of University of Notre Dame and Northwestern University Dental School.  She completed her General Practice Residency, Oral Pathology Fellowship and Pathology MS at University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine.  Once her training was complete, she and her family moved to Seattle in 1987 where she worked at Harborview Medical Center for three years before ultimately establishing her own dental practice in the South Center area of Seattle. She has been there for over 25 years and is now happily in partnership with her daughter.

Pat and her husband Paul, now deceased, raised their 3 children in Seattle. Now that the children are grown, she enjoys traveling with friends and family, gardening, cooking and working at WHDO's Maasai Dental clinic!

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Patricia Benca, DDS

Treasurer

Blake Foust, DDS

Graduating from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in 1981, Blake makes his home in Cleburne, Texas along with his wife, Paula, and three adult children. 

Blake is a fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology.

One of his favorite ways of giving back is championing good news in the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX region. He along with two others, sponsor Good News TV, a Christian station.

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Blake Foust, DDS

Wendi Kannenberg, MPH

Born in eastern Montana, Wendi Kannenberg has lived many years throughout the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.  She currently calls Spangle, Washington home.

Wendi holds dual undergraduate degrees in English and nursing. She earned a Masters in Global Public Health degree in 2005 from Loma Linda University with an emphasis in research and evaluation, program development, and health education. She currently serves as a health, education, and evaluation consultant with McKinley Research Group, an Alaska-based firm providing research and consulting services to hundreds of public and private sector clients across Alaska, plus several from national and international arenas. 

Wendi is married to Donivan Andregg and they have two daughters, Jessica and Karlin. In her book, combining service and travel is just the best!

Wendi

Wendi Kannenberg, MPH

Landon Libby, DDS

Libby was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska and now resides in San Diego, CA. Having grown up in a unique environment of responsibility and the extremes, Libby loves the art of life and what it can offer. He received his DDS degree and education at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry.

Libby sits on the board for WHDO. with lots of excitement for Missions and dentistry. Libby’s background is full of mission minded dental trips to places like Kenya, Fiji, Nicaragua, Peru, and Mexico. He spent 1 month as a senior dental student at the Maasai Dental Clinic and it was the best experience of his education.

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Landon Libby, DDS

Pam Libby, MFT

Pam Libby loves service adventure! The opportunity to serve on the WHDO board is just what she was looking for. She’s had many years of donating her time and skills both internationally and nationally.

Worthington, Ohio is where Pam grew up. Her parents taught her to be a contribution in her world. After teaching English as a second language in Jakarta, Indonesia for one year, she graduated from Loma Linda University in 1976 as a communications major.

Marrying Jim Libby in 1978, they soon made Anchorage, AK their hometown. It was a great place to raise their two sons, Landon and Justin.

Pam thrives on variety. She’s a licensed family therapist, yoga instructor, commercial fisher, dental administrator, athlete and philanthropist. Alaska and Baja serve as big landscapes for her outdoor physical activities. Running, biking, swimming, cross-country skiing fit into her lifestyle just right!

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Pam Libby, MFT

Doyle Nick, DDS

Associate Professor and Director of the Office of International Dental Affairs, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry graduate from LLUSD in '78, Prosthodontics Certificate LLUSD '95, MS in Health Professions Education in '10 WHDO / LLLUSD liaison

Doyle is enthusiastic about intercultural interactions, the natural world, and the educational process, especially the learning, growth, and rewards of education in the context of service to others.

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Doyle Nick, DDS

Interested in Volunteering?

(360) 504-8005

info@worldhealthdental.org

Box 107, 2023 East Sims Way
Port Townsend, WA 98368

© 2021 World Health Dental Organization — All Rights Reserved

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