Dental mission to Ethiopia

Dr. Richard Parker, a Loma Linda University School of Dentistry graduate, and a team of dental students recently returned from a medical missionary trip to western Ethiopia, where they provided medical and dental service to more than 350 people.
Parker and his team spent two weeks at Gimbie Adventist Hospital. They also traveled the countryside to serve Ethiopians who rarely have dental care available.

Parker, who runs a private dental practice in Calimesa, said the missions are aimed at providing dental students an opportunity to practice dentistry in a setting outside the traditional clinic environment.

Parker's first dental mission was to Guatemala in 1967.

"It gives you a sense of satisfaction to be able to do that, and I think the students get that same satisfaction," Parker said.

Accompanying Parker on the most recent trip were his wife, Bonnie, their son, Scott, who is a dental student at Loma Linda University, and Scott's wife, Erika, a physician. Dental student Tate Montgomery of Redlands also went on the trip.