Hawaii
Local Hero: Dr. T.

Dr. T. has practiced general dentistry in the Windward Oahu town of Kailua for almost 40 years. Despite his busy schedule (he’s even been too busy to golf lately), for the last three years Dr. T. has carved out the time to be a DDS volunteer. “I try to do something more than just earn a living,” he says.

“I’ve been very fortunate in my life; nothing catastrophic has happened to me, but I see so many people who are badly off in this world and I just want to do my part.” Although Dr. T. has also volunteered for Head Start for the past seven years, he feels that he can be most effective by donating time and treatment through his practice. Like other DDS volunteers, he praises the organization for targeting needy people and coordinating their dental care. His most recent DDS client traveled over the mountains to seek his help. “She had very poor teeth and I could see that she had difficulty eating,” he recalls. “We did several crowns for her before we could do a removable partial denture and a full upper denture.” Thanks to his work, the patient not only found it easier to eat, but she also looked better. Says Dr. T. modestly, “She said that she appreciated what I did.”