Dr. Bruce White – Dental Mission
Dr. Bruce White has had a well known dental practice serving the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area for many years. Bruce also had an interest in the health needs of people in 3rd World and developing regions of the world for some years. He became aware of the neglect of indigenous Indians of Mayan decent in the mountains of Chiapas, Mexico through former Governor Pablo Salazar and Jonathan and Maggie Salgado. Chiapas is the southern most state in Mexico, located on the north border of Guatemala. It has the highest percentage of indigenous Indians, and has the reputation of being the poorest of Mexican states.
In 2009, Bruce and two of his staff spent two weeks in several isolated villages introducing a program of dental care to the people. In that same year Bruce sold his dental practice and began a practice in Phoenix treating sleep apnea utilizing oral appliances. This transition allows the time necessary to commit a portion of each year serving neglected people throughout the world.
With the help of Jonathan Salgado, Bruce is establishing working relationships with government and medical friends throughout the state of Chiapas. With help of partner organizations, Bruce is establishing a mobile treatment center in Chiapas with the strategy of visiting several villages each year. The equipment, which will be located permanently in Chiapas will allow for much more extensive treatment to be accomplished when the team visits.
