International
 |
Dr. Khankichi-Zade treats Marsha and Dasha, conjoined twins who are famous in Russia. A book about them has been published in English and German. |
Dentists
from around the globe learn at the School
Nancy L. Yuen
According to James M. Crawford, SD’60, MPH, executive associate dean, School of Dentistry, and dental director for the health ministry department, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, missionary dentists from India, Africa, Asia, and Moscow have traveled to receive advanced education at the School, enhancing their service to the world.
Russia
 |
Dr. Lale Khankichi-Zade, a dentist who has worked for Adventist Health
Center in Moscow for the past five years, has entered the School’s
International Dentist Program (IDP). Upon completing six months of training
with IDP, Dr. Khankichi-Zade will return to Moscow, and will continue
practicing dentistry at Adventist Health Center.
After finishing her dental training in the Soviet Union, Dr. Khankichi-Zade worked for three years as a dentist. She then took a short break from dentistry to raise her son, Baku Azerbaijan. Then, she began working for Adventist Health Center in Moscow, and is one of five dentists who work at the Center.
An article about Adventist Health Center appeared in the Autumn, 1996
issue of Loma Linda University SCOPE.
The Center, which opened in November, 1992, just 14 months after the Soviet
union dissolved into independent states, is the first major health-care
facility in Russia administered by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
According to Dr. Khankichi-Zade, because of the clinic’s fine reputation,
many dignitaries use these services. The clinic also has contracts with
companies in Moscow.
Her patients include members of the diplomatic corps from several embassies,
including United States, Canada, Zimbabwe, and Sri Lanka. Organizations
including Doctors Without Borders and the Peace Corps have chosen to send
their workers to the clinic for care. Dr. Khankichi-Zade’s patients
include Marsha and Dasha, conjoined twins who are famous in Russia. A
book about the twins has been published in England and Germany.
Providing quality care to those less fortunate is also important to Dr.
Khankichi-Zade and is a part of the clinic’s mission. Discounts and
two free visits are provided to Church members, families with children,
and retired citizens.
 |
| Dr. Lale Khankicki-Zade, a dentist from Adventist Health Center in Moscow, has joined the School’s International Dentist Program (IDP). |
Dentists from the Center spend three to four days a month traveling to
churches where they treat members and people from the local community
at no cost. “We are able to speak about God with these patients,”
she says, “and to tell them about the Adventist Church. We also leave
gifts of religious books, and dental supplies including toothbrushes,
dental floss, and toothpaste.”
In addition, the Center provides free dental care to children in an orphanage run by Moscow College in a system known as a “family orphanage.” In this system, local families house from four to 14 children in their homes.
As she worked with the staff at the Center, Dr. Khankichi-Zade learned more about the Adventist faith, and four years ago, she was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
She is looking forward to the advanced experience she will receive in
the IDP. “I will see cases,” she says, “and gain experience
that is possible to get only in a student clinic.” She also hopes
to learn more about implant dentistry during her time at the School of
Dentistry.
Dr. Khankichi-Zade’s tuition has been fully funded, with half contributed
by National Association of Seventh-day Adventist Dentists (NASDAD), and
the other half by the School of Dentistry.
“This program for international dentists is a wonderful gift to mission
service,” remarks Dr. Crawford.
China
 |
| Larry Wu, BDS (Bachelor of Dental Science), is now completing six months of intensive training in the International Dentist Program. |
\Sir Run Run Shaw, a Hong Kong film magnate now in his mid-90s,
dreamed of building a Western-style hospital in his native Zhejian Province
in the People’s Republic of China.
Because of his deep love for the people of his province, he provided partial
funding to the Zhejian Provincial Government for the construction of a
hospital in its capital of Hangzhou. His only request was that he partner
with the Seventh-day Adventist Church in operating the hospital.
“Sir Run Run Shaw became acquainted with the Adventist
health-care system many years ago when his mother was treated at an Adventist
hospital by Dr Harry Miller, one of the first Seventh-day Adventist physicians
to work in China,” says Joan Coggin, MD, MPH, vice president for
global outreach, LLUAHSC. “He never forgot the excellent care his
mother received from Dr. Miller.”
Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (SRRSH), which opened May 2, 1994, is a 400-bed
hospital that provides Western-style services. The hospital employs 1,000
individuals.
Lloyd Baum, DMD, emeritus professor of dentistry, was instrumental in
establishing the dental clinic at SRRSH.
Larry Wu, BDS, is the clinic’s director, and has been with the SRRSH
clinic since it began. He is now living his dream of pursuing six months
of intensive training in the LLU’s International Dentist Program,
and will return home in March.
Dr. Wu has seen the SRRSH clinic expand from five dentists when the clinic
opened to nine. In addition, Dr. Wu oversees a staff of 5 assistants;
1 sterilization technician; 1 x-ray technician; and 4 dental technicians.
 |
| Keeping current with technology and dental research is important to the dentists at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, People’s Republic of China. Pictured are the first individuals to attend continuing education classes at the hospital, along with their instructors (seated). |
Though dental hygiene is currently not recognized as a profession in China, Dr. Wu sees the possibility of beginning to train dental hygienists at SRRSH.
Keeping current with technology and dental research is important to the dentists at SRRSH. Ten dentists attended the clinic’s first continuing education program several years ago, and the program has expanded each year to dentists within the Zhejiang province, and throughout China.
According to Dr. Crawford, the School of Dentistry and NASDAD work together to provide funding for the individuals who travel to LLU to complete the advanced six-month training program offered through International Dentist Program. Realizing the importance for dentists worldwide to receive advanced training at Loma Linda University, the School of Dentistry has designated this as a major item in strategic planning.
All contents copyright © 2001 Loma Linda University.
All rights reserved. Revised February 14, 2001
Send comments and questions to webmaster@univ.llu.edu
URL: http://www.llu.edu