“Mission work is about compassion, all those hours spent reading article after article… none of it prepares you to connect and reconnect with the compassionate side of dentistry. That’s what mission work does for me.” – Dr. Stephanie Ganter

This drive to connect on a human level sparked a recent humanitarian project in Nepal funded by the Global Visionary Fund’s Henry Schein Grant Program. It’s a powerful example of what happens when a Fellow’s personal philosophy becomes real-world action. ICD Fellows Stephanie Ganter and Bob McNeill led the initiative, channeling their passion into a plan that served immediate needs while also building a foundation for the future.

The project began with Phase I: essential, hands-on service. The team delivered much-needed dental supplies to the Kathmandu Medical Center and provided critical in-person care at outreach clinics. The results were immediate. They served a total of 100 patients. The pressing need of the community was heartbreakingly clear, as 90% of those individuals were children. In a wave of focused activity, the team completed 100 procedures, focusing on the fundamentals that restore health and dignity: essential diagnostics, prophies and extractions.

In Phase II, the team built the foundation for that lasting legacy through lasting relationships. The team established strong, collaborative partnerships with their local colleagues and the Dean of the Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences.

Through this partnership, they listened and learned, identifying specific, advanced training needs: surgical procedures like sinus lifts and support for digital dentistry. Based on this, the Fellows provided an international education program via Zoom for dental students and residents at the medical center. Their goal wasn’t just to provide a temporary fix, but to create a lasting educational bridge; one that helps local professionals carry the work forward themselves.

This is the essence of true Fellowship: compassion put into action by skilled hands and made permanent by sharing knowledge. Fellows Ganter and McNeill have ensured this “journey of shared knowledge will continue,” leaving a legacy that will serve the Nepali community for years to come.