Academy Associated Organizations Serving in Ghana
Dr. Glen Stephenson is our Regional Service Representative for Africa. He is very involved in the humanitarian efforts in West Africa and gave the following update regarding work in Ghana;
Construction has been completed on a freestanding four ops dental clinic in Ghana. The clinic is located adjacent to a children’s home where Dr. Stephenson serves on the board of directors. Dr. Stephenson makes a trip at least once a year with a team of 4-5 doctors and their families. They do a variety of dentistry including some restorative work and surgeries. There is volunteer housing at the school so the volunteers are able to stay on site. It’s clean, safe, and food is provided. Individual doctors are welcome to volunteer at the clinic, but more often than not the clinicians bring their families.
In addition to the dental clinic, there is a new surgical center and hospital right next to the dental office. This makes it very convenient for situations where sedation through general anesthesia is required for people that cannot be treated otherwise. There is a section of the children’s home that has children and adults with disabilities who can’t be treated classically and this has been a wonderful blessing for them. The buildling was provided by the humanitarian service organization Ghana Make a Difference, one of our Academy-Associated Service Organizations, along with philanthropist Jimmy Donaldson aka MrBeast.
Whether you’re interested in going with Dr. Stephenson
or in arranging your own dental trip to Ghana, Dr. Stephenson is willing and able to help you make arrangements for serving in the clinic. There are social workers and an office manager on site to coordinate and arrange for patients as well as any other logistical issues. The facilities are beautiful and the schedule is quite flexible. Dr. Stephenson said “If people knew how awesome it was we’d be full!”
If you’re interested in taking a service trip to Ghana the best way to get involved is reach out to Dr. Stephenson for more information.
Dr. Stephenson also accepts donations of good, resellable dental equipment. He has a used equipment re-seller that will turn it around and this provides some financial support for the children’s home. The donating dentist would get a tax deduction for the maximum reasonable value of the equipment. For questions contact Dr. Stephenson at mrglen@mac.com
Contact: Dr. Stephenson at mrglen@mac.com or leave a text or voice message at 208-484-7999.
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Academy Associated Organizations Serving in Mali
Unfortunately, due to Al Quida activities in the area, trips to Mali are on hold. The State Department has issued Threat Level 4 travel restrictions currently.
Dr. Palmer shares that due to the lack of dental education and professional dental care, Malians often face serious dental infections. In many cases these infections cause a slow and painful death. Malians believe in tribal healing and use this as the first mode of treatment.
Even without travel as a current option, there are many ways you can help people in Mali. Dr. Palmer would be happy to talk to you about ways you can get involved.
Contact: Dr. Laurence and Trudy Palmer at 801-540-7984 laurencepalmer@hotmail.com
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Academy Associated Organizations Serving in Liberia
The Hirsche Smiles Foundation dental team is a dedicated team committed to bringing smiles and relief to underserved communities by providing free dental services and hygiene education. Our Foundation has sent dental teams to Guatemala 37 times, Peru 2 times, and Liberia Africa 2 times. With compassion and expertise, our team of professionals and volunteers offer essential dental care—fluoride treatments, extractions, restorations, and preventative education—helping to alleviate pain and prevent future dental issues. In March 2025 we completed a successful trip to Guatemala. In Fall of 2025 we have a dental trip planned for Liberia Africa in September. By empowering individuals with the knowledge and tools for better oral health, we’re not just treating teeth—we’re transforming lives, one smile at a time. Our team is always looking for volunteers to help with projects, fundraising and trip efforts.
Contact: Kathy Ross at rosskathyd@gmail.com or 801-376-7372