I was pleased to receive the first issue of Woman Dentist Journal, and I appreciate the effort you make to produce a professional magazine for women dentists.
I have been a dentist since 1985 and love my profession. I am passionate about volunteer dentistry and, at the same time, am amazed that so few women dentists I know care about it. I would like to get to know more about those women dentists who truly enjoy traveling to remote areas, reaching out to desperately poor communities around the world, helping children who live in deep poverty ... and enjoy running a private practice back home as well.
I take teams of volunteer dentists to Third World countries like Vietnam, Burma, and West Africa. So far, I have always had more male dentists as volunteers; only one woman dentist has joined us in the past seven years.
Maybe there are more women dentists out there who are interested in short-term dental mission trips than I am aware of. Please help us get connected.
Our next mission trip to Vietnam is scheduled for Feb. 20 to March 7, 2004. For more information about Dental Mission for Children, visit our Web site at www.dds4kids.org.
Thank you and best wishes to WDJ!
Lan Jones, DDS
Knoxville, Tenn.
EDITOR'S NOTE: See this issue and future ones for showcasing opportunities for women dentists to participate in mission trips. Please don't forget about our national needs as well. AAWD's Smiles for Success program allows women moving from welfare to work to receive oral health care at your office. Dress for Success provides new clothes and training for job interview skills as an adjunct to the Smiles for Success program.
