Recent Alums Join Former Faculty in Jamaican Outreach

Bernhard (Ben) Bringewald DMD 11 joined the Jamaica Awareness Association of California (JAAC) 2011 Annual Medical and Education Mission trip to Jamaica following GSDM graduation May 28 to June 3.

JAAC conducts an annual, seven-day mission to rural Jamaica with a team of medical professionals and other volunteers to provide medical screenings, laparoscopic surgeries, dental care, health education, and career counseling, and set up computer labs in elementary schools. On this trip, the team visited six clinics and four hospitals in Ochos Rios and surrounding parishes.

“On an externship like this,” Ben says, “it’s all centered around how to get the patient out of pain with the limited instruments available under conditions that are challenging when coming from the well-stocked and equipped treatment centers at GSDM. The externship experience went beyond my expectations and I am grateful for the opportunity.”

Bringewald joined former faculty member Dr. Gregory Stoute and alum Kimberly Haynes DMD 09 AEGD 10 on the trip. Dr. Haynes was a part of the first group of students to go on the mission and has since become a member of the organization, staff dentist for the medical team, and part of the pre-planning activities. The team extracted teeth from 158 patients, a mix of children and adults.

Dr. Stoute describes Bringewald as an instant asset to the team.

“Ben was quick to adapt to challenging clinical conditions and was a hit with the patients,” Dr. Stoute said. “He faced unique challenges, such as learning how to contour an anterior composite with a bone file and emory board and extracting compromised teeth without the use of a hand piece.”

Ben has been invited back next year following a residency. Dr. Stoute says he hopes to continue JAAC’s relationship with the Extramural Program at GSDM. He hopes other GSDM students will join him, and offers this piece of advice:

“Go in with an open mind and be prepared to work hard and learn a lot.“

Photos are available on Facebook (Album 1 and Album 2) and Flickr.