LLU School of Dentistry - Dentalgram, July 2000

Wise men from the East have reason to smile
by Christy K. Robinson


Luis Calvillo, Dr. Waheedullah Momand, and Dr. David Brodeur celebrate the completion of the dentures.

In June, three professors from Kabul, Afghanistan, visited Loma Linda University, re-establishing ties with LLU that went back 30 years. Visiting here were Afghanistan's Minister of Higher Education, the associate dean of the Medical University of Kabul, and Dr. Waheedullah Momand, associate clinical professor of cardiology and internal medicine at Kabul Medical Institute.

Afghans are rebuilding their universities after the Russian occupation of their country and the civil unrest which has followed. The three educators visited Loma Linda University for general information, and to learn how to redevelop their medical and dental schools at the University of Kabul.

During their visit, Joan Coggin, MD, MPH, professor of medicine and special assistant to the President of Loma Linda University, asked David Brodeur, SD'71, MPH, assistant professor of restorative dentistry, to provide some partial dentures to Dr. Momand.

Dr. Momand was imprisoned for two years during the Russian occupation, and was beaten regularly, resulting in the loss of many teeth.

"With the help of Louis Calvillo, dental laboratory services technician, we were able to provide him with greatly improved upper and lower partial dentures in only two day's time," says Dr. Brodeur.

"I want to express my best thanks to Dr. Brodeur. I think that he is really a good humanist, and I thank his fellows that helped him regarding my treatment," says Dr. Momand.

"They were very grateful and the minister has extended an invitation for Dr. Heisler and me to come and visit Kabul and the University in the future," says Dr. Brodeur.