Russian Dentists visit Loma Linda March 8 to April 1

During their stay, the 11 dentists from Russia attended classes at the School of Dentistry. Here they listen to a demonstration by a representative from a dental equipment company.

The San Bernardino Crossroads Rotary Club hosted a group of 11 Russian Dentists together with one translator and one facilitator March 8 to April 1. The group was from all parts of Russia, with more than 5,000 miles separating Kaliningrad and St. Petersburg in the northwest on the Baltic Sea, to Vladavostock in the southeast on the Pacific Ocean. The dentists were here to learn U.S. dental management techniques.

This cross cultural exchange program is sponsored by The Center for Citizen Initiative, a U.S. State Department-funded organization, the Center for Citizen Initiative in San Francisco, and is known as the Productivity Enhancement Program.
The visits are organized to bring groups of professionals and business people from Russia to the United States for a three-week stay to learn more about business management practices.

School of Dentistry faculty and staff involved in their training included: Ron Forde, William Heisler, Carlos Muñoz, George Lessard, Pearl and Erwin McDonald, Judson Klooster, Milford Anholm, Bill Seibly, Duane Wacker, Barbara Bostwick, Judy Adams, Lale Khankichi-Zade, and the continuing dental education department.

Others involved were Mike Boyko, Bill Domb, Newport Dental, Penny Gage at Tri-County Dental Society, Estrada Dental, Patterson Dental, Bill Herrera and Channel Islands Dental Laboratory, Cal State San Bernardino Center for Entrepreneurship, Maria Teresa Pietrok from A-dec, Inc. and LLUMC community relations department.

LLUMC dispatch services made available two vans for transportation, and Phil Carlisle and Wally Schmidt from LLU and Rolland Crawford, Loma Linda City fire chief, along with Mel Upp and Barry Lowenstein, were drivers.

Coordinated by Susan Kean and Treva Webster, the group has enjoyed the home hospitality of several University families and SD alumni including Bill and Barbara Heisler, Carl and Ingrid Seheult, Erwin and Pearl McDonald, Victor and Janet Elloway, Charles and Susan Kean, Terri and Tim Day, and Carolyn Cales.

Rotarians from the Crossroads and other clubs who hosted group members in their homes include Suzanne and Dean Schel linger, Marvin and Rosalyn Billings, Barry and Bernice Lowenstein, Randall and Karen Swedlove, Dr. and Mrs. Narendra Vyas, and Jack and Anne Freeman.

Completing the list of home hosts are Barbara Heisler's parents, Paul and Margaret Alderson. During their stay, the group visited local attractions including Disneyland and Universal Studios.

Judy Adams, manager, dental insurance, assisted by translator Ilya Zlotnikov, discusses fine points of dental insurance in the United States with Russian delegates.

The Russian delegates are introduced to faculty during the March 16 Faculty Advance seminar.

Russian dentists pose for a photo in Coleman Pavilion following their introduction during the Faculty Advance Seminar.

Dr. Heisler (left) poses with the group on a trip they took to Heisler Park in Laguna Beach.

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