THE 2010 RRD "DREAM TEAM"
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For 2010, Dr. Reckmeyer has recruited Mr. RUKUNDO and Mr. HABIMANA, two Rwandan dental therapists, to work alongside two US dentists, Dr. Larry Warren and Dr. Marcus Gottlieb to train four nurses from June 2 – 27, 2010.
Two of the nurses will come from Mayange Community Health Center, the flagship community health center in Rwanda for the United Nations Millennium Project. The other two nurses will come from Kinigi, the model community health center in the Musanze District.
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Dr. Richard Reckmeyer
Executive Director and Team Leader
About Dr. Richard Reckmeyer
Dr. Reckmeyer fell in love with Rwanda in 2006 during a safari to Eastern Africa. His first exposure to Rwanda was the Kigali Memorial Centre. He saw the destruction of human life that results when an immoral leader is in power and what a human being is capable of doing to another human being. Philip Gourevitch, in his book “We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed with Our Families: Stories from Rwanda” states that the 1994 genocide was the “most efficient mass killing since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.”
On his way to Volcanoes National Park for a gorilla trek, Dr. Reckmeyer noticed how clean the roads were and asked the guide why. The guide said that once a month, everyone, including President Paul Kagame, picks up debris including all forms of polythene bags. The guide went on extolling the virtues of President Kagame who “ended our slaughter”. Dr. Reckmeyer thought “What a difference a moral leader can make!” While visiting Rwanda, Dr. Reckmeyer and his wife, Jan, saw the hope in the eyes of the women and children; and it “was love at first sight” for Dr. Reckmeyer.
Since 2006, Dr. Reckmeyer looked for different ways to give back to Rwanda ranging from volunteering to help advance Rwanda’s tourism industry to designing an organization to improve the oral health care in rural Rwanda.
In 2007 he met Dr. Jerry Denning, a dentist, and his wife, Mikell Denning, a hygienist, introduced him to the work they were doing in Kenya through Kenya Medical Mission. The Kenya model incorporated caring for immediate dental needs and, incorporating a three week intensive training program to prepare Kenyans to carry on the work after Dr. and Mrs. Denning returned to the United States. The first seed of Rural Rwanda Dental was planted that day because Dr. Reckmeyer believed the Kenya model could be modified to fit the needs of rural Rwanda.
In 2008, Dr. Reckmeyer accepted an invitation to be the only dentist on a People to People Citizen Ambassador Healthcare and Medical Education delegation. Unfortunately, his trip was cut short for medical reasons but his dream of returning to Rwanda continued.
In March, 2009, the African Wildlife Foundation referred Dr. Reckmeyer to Dr. Mike Cranfield, Executive Director of the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project. On the second phone call with Dr. Cranfield, Dr. Reckmeyer pointed out that the Mountain Gorilla One Health Approach had a flaw - it didn’t take into account that communicable diseases can be transferred from the mouth of any human being to other humans as well as to gorillas! Dr. Cranfield immediately set in place provisions for Dr. Reckmeyer to join him on his June, 2009, trip to Ruhengeri, Rwanda.
Facilitated by Dr. Cranfield and Dr. James Farer, Dr. Reckmeyer met with the VIPs from Ministry of Health, Kigali Health Institute’s Dental Department, Musanze District, Ruhengeri, and Community Health Centres in the district. He also interacted with villagers living in nearby rural areas. The most significant achievement was recruiting John Berchmans HABIMANA and Jean Claude RUKUNDO to participate in the pilot project . The ideas presented were well received, and a plan was developed to schedule a pilot project at the Ruhengeri Hospital. If successful, the RRD model, “Building Sustainability Through Education,” will be replicated in all community health centers in Rwanda. It was during this time that a partnership with Michael Grosspietsch, Executive Director for Eos Visions was formed.
In January, 2010, Dr. Reckmeyer returned a fourth time to fine tune details for the June, 2010 trip. During this trip, a partnership with Josh Ruxin, CEO of Access Project and Rwanda Works was developed. Michael’s and Josh’s team’s support is critical to our project.
In October, 2011, Dr. Reckmeyer will lead an oral health delegation to Rwanda with People to People Citizen Ambassadors Program that will focus on all facets of the dental delivery system.
Lawrence L. Warren, D.D.S.
Teacher of Dentistry
About Lawrence L. Warren, DDS
Dr. Lawrence Warren is a teacher of dentistry for Rural Rwanda Dental (RRD) whose mission is to train community health center personnel in rural Rwanda until there is a self-sustaining model that will support the country’s dental needs. Dr. Warren focuses on training 2 dental care workers at a time giving them intense personal training and attention to ensure that quality care is provided to Rwandans. His goal is to see that Rwanda’s overall health is improving year by year to reduce the effects of pain and infection which also lead to serious health issues.
Dr. Warren provides instruction in taking and understanding health histories, utilizing local anesthetic to provide pain free dentistry, and the treatment of infection by removal of infected teeth and proper application of appropriate medication. He also teaches prevention of dental disease by providing an understanding of what causes dental disease and how that knowledge and good home care can provide a healthier life.
Background
Dr. Warren holds a B.A degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and a DDS degree from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. He completed a rotating dental internship at the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital in Galveston, Texas. Dr. Warren was the Chief of Dental Staff at the Indian Health Service Hospital in Whiteriver, Arizona, on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. Following service in the Indian Health Service Dr. Warren was in private practice of dentistry for 38 years in Phoenix, Arizona. During that time Dr. Warren was the founder of one study club, the co-founder of a second study club and co-founder of an endowment fund for advanced continuing dental education in California.
Dr. Warren has completed a variety of continuing dental education courses throughout his career and is dedicated to practicing dentistry with the latest information in order to benefit his patients. Dr. Warren works at both the John C. Lincoln Children’s Dental Clinic treating low income children and the Central Arizona Shelter Services treating homeless persons in Phoenix, Arizona.
He is or was a member of the Central Arizona Dental Society, the Arizona Dental Association, the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry, Scottsdale Dental Seminars, Omicron Kappa Upsilon Academic Honorary and is a Life Member of The Ohio State University College of Dentistry Alumni Society. He also teaches children the benefits of outdoor recreation through the Kids in the Woods program of the U. S. Forest Service.
Marcus S. Gottlieb, D.D.S.
Teacher of Dentistry
About Marcus S. Gottlieb, D.D.S.
Dr. Marcus Gottlieb is a Public Health Dentist for Chicago Health Outreach, Inc., working at the Spang Center for Oral Health, Chicago, Illinois, from 9/99 to 12/00. I worked there for over a year, solely treating HIV positive patients unable to afford private practitioners. This job gave me the opportunity to learn more specifically about HIV and the proper treatment of these individuals.
Public Health Dentist for the Lake County Health Department from 9/99 to the present. I care for low-income people from ages 3 to 93 unable to afford going to a dentist in private practice. It has been a rewarding and fulfilling experience for me. I treat about 15 to 20 patients a day. I need to be organized and work quickly, but efficiently, and I have learned to do so.
Medical missions to Panama in February 2007 and February 2008. During these missions, I performed oral surgery in Panamanian villages, nursing homes, and orphanages. No X-rays were taken and patients would sit in upright chairs and flashlights would be used for visibility. These missions have been the most memorable experiences in my dental career.
Medical Mission to Cleveland, Tennesee, in September 2008, with Remote Area Medical. I provided free dental services, primarily fillings and extractions, to low-income people.
Other Volunteer Experiences. Dr. Gottleib currently volunteers at the Desert Mission Children’s Dental Clinic affiliated with the John C. Lincoln Hospital in Phoenix, AZ; at the dental clinic affiliated with St. Vincent’s Homeless Shelter in Phoenix, AZ; and as a volunteer dentist for Iowa Mission of Mercy, September, 2009, providing free dental services to those in need.
John Berchmans Habimana
Superior Dental Technician
John Berchmans Habimana is Superior Dental Technician, Ruhengeri Hospital Dental Department, Rwanda Liaison. Mr. Habimana is a 2006 graduate of Kigali Health Institution. His first year after graduation, he worked at Butaro Hospital before accepting the position at Ruhengeri Hospital.
Jean Claude Rukundo
Community Health Workers Supervisor
A Community Health Workers Supervisor (1884 CHW’s), Nyabihu District, Rwanda Liaison, Mr. Rukundo is a 2002 graduate of Kigali Health Institute and has a 2008 Bachelor of Science degree in public health and is a candidate of Masters in Project Planning Management in Kabare University in Uganda.
Bertin Gakombe Kalinda
District Health Advisor, Musanze and Ngoma Districts
Bertin’s work for the Access Project focuses on the Musanze district in Rwanda. Before joining the Access Project in February 2007, Bertin was the director of health in the Karongi district. He has worked previously as a tutorial assistant at the Kigali Health Institute, an assistant for the Family Health International program in Kigali, and the supervisor of a health center in Kibuye. Bertin received his bachelor’s degree in Public Health from the National University of Rwanda and lives in Musanze with his wife and five children.
