Michael A. Hale, DDS, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon with Colorado Oral Surgery, has recently returned stateside after a week-long medical mission trip to Kenya. This was Dr. Hale’s second annual medical mission trip to Kenya. Dr. Hale has previously completed medical mission trips to Haiti and Samoa and says he intends to continue serving in Kenya for the next several years because of the "great need" there. To help support ongoing outreach efforts, Dr. Hale and his colleagues have established a nonprofit foundation called Global Humanitarian Healthcare.
“Together with local philanthropists Vince Line, Cary LaCouture (dentist), Tim Pingree (ENT surgeon), and dedicated supporting team members – with significant support from local philanthropist Doug Perry – we have established the Global Humanitarian Healthcare foundation to support ongoing medical mission work,” said Dr. Hale. “We travel with portable equipment that allows us to set up makeshift dental and surgical clinics in schools, churches and community centers – in areas where the medical shortage is critical. What we’re doing is just a small drop in an infinitely large bucket, and we look forward to continuing to build on the relationships, infrastructure and treatment approaches we’ve established.”
During this medical mission trip, the dental care team treated 1,000+ patients from the Iten and Eldoret communities in Kenya’s Rift Valley. Both communities have extremely limited dental care options and substantial dental needs.
Over the course of just seven days, the dental care team and its Kenyan volunteers performed more than 1,000 extractions of severely decayed or non-restorable teeth, restored hundreds of teeth, placed bonded bridges for patients with missing front teeth, and removed various lesions under local anesthesia. The care team worked non-stop from 7 am to 7 pm, each day, treating patients of all ages. In addition, they implemented a basic hygiene program that was made possible through Henry Shein, enabling the team to provide more than 1,000 cleanings and preventive treatments, along with essential oral health education.
“Thanks to the very generous support of Henry Shein, we established dedicated stations where both children and adults were taught proper brushing and flossing techniques, followed by fluoride varnish treatments. Being able to teach the people of Kenya these techniques will have a lasting and far-reaching impact, and we’re extremely grateful for that opportunity.”
Dr. Hale’s wife and two of their children (who are teenagers) assisted the dental care team, helping to run the clinic by taking radiographs, helping with sterilization and sanitation, organizing medications, and supporting the hygiene program. They also helped distribute essential items -- such as children’s clothing, toys, school supplies and blankets – to local hospitals and schools.
In addition to dental care, the medical mission trip also included ENT and podiatry services.
“This year’s mission was an important step forward, as we continue to refine how we can make the greatest impact with the resources available to us,” added Dr. Hale. “The feedback from the community has been overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing that our efforts are making a meaningful difference.”
In addition to his medical mission work outside of the United States, Dr. Hale also provides pro bono oral cancer screenings at Colorado Oral Surgery in Denver and Parker, in conjunction with Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month in April.
Dr. Hale is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, which is the highest credential that can be obtained in the specialty, according to the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Dr. Hale earned his bachelor’s degree from The University of Utah and completed his dental training at The Ohio State University, graduating with honors and earning the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Dental Implant Student Award. Afterward, he completed his oral and maxillofacial specialty training through the University of Minnesota.