DT News - Canada - Ramzi Haddad, DDS: Doing well by doing good

Robert Selleck, Dental Tribune Canada

Tue. 18 February 2014

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Two years ago, a hygienist in one of the two practices that Ramzi Haddad, DDS, owns in Toronto announced she was volunteering for a dental-services mission to Guatemala. She encouraged others in the office to join her on the trip with Health Outreach, which is based in Mississauga. Haddad hadn’t previously given such trips much thought, but he signed on, and ultimately the office contributed six members to a team of dental professionals that set up a temporary clinic in an old hotel-type building in a remote area of the country.

After Haddad returned from the weeklong trip, he signed up for a second one. And now, another year later, he’s preparing for his third trip, this time as project leader in the organization’s first boat-based mission. “It’s going to be pretty rough conditions,” Haddad said, describing the riverboat as “pretty basic.” But after his team broke the organization’s record last year for number of patients treated in a week (380), Haddad is ready for the next challenge.

The organization typically assembles teams of 10 dental professionals, built around four dentists and rounded out with hygienists, assistants and support volunteers. Everyone is expected to have at least some familiarity with Spanish, but translators also are available. On his second trip, Haddad was surprised at how quickly his less-than rudimentary Spanish skills bumped up a notch and steadily improved during the week.

From the looks of it, Haddad will continue indefinitely with his annual Spanish immersion. “I just think it’s time to start giving back,” he said. “I’m at a stage where I can do it financially — and with my time and my family. The work is very satisfying. You’re doing dentistry at its purest. … It brings out the best in dentistry.”

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