“We screened many adults for cancer screening. We actually found three to four suspicious oral lesions,” said Section I USA, District 2 Regent Rekha Gehani, who led a free dental outreach initiative across four rural Indian villages surrounding Ambala and Jaipur. “They shared their habits of tobacco chewing, bidi smoking and also alcohol consumption. This is their routine day.”
In these underserved communities, daily habits like tobacco chewing and bidi smoking lead to severe oral health complications, yet local residents face a chronic shortage of basic dental care, routine checkups and early cancer detection. To address these clinical gaps and advance community health education, Dr. Gehani organized a humanitarian project from Feb. 21 to March 1, 2026, pairing direct treatment with academic instruction.
Supported by funding from the Global Visionary Fund and Henry Schein Cares partnership, the outreach combined direct clinical care, public health instruction and long-term infrastructure development.
Partnership Delivers Care in India
The initiative brought together volunteer clinicians from Section I and Section VI. Joining Dr. Gehani from Section I were Fellows Chad Gehani, Nilesh Patel and Savitha Reddy. The Section VI team included Fellows Annamalai Thangavelu, G.M. Sogi, Suma Sogi, H.L. Gupta, Akansha Sharma and Preyas Joshi.
Working alongside a local medical camp and a women’s education group, 50 to 60 volunteer clinicians delivered oral cancer screenings and preventive care to more than 350 adults and children. The team provided an estimated $9,000 in clinical services, made possible by a $3,500 cash grant that covered oral health products, personal protective wear, pathology slides, mobile van equipment, team meals and local facilities.
Clinical Training and Mentorship
“In addition to mobile clinics in the villages, the delegation led academic seminars and clinical case discussions for students and faculty at local dental colleges, delivering lectures in pedodontics, endodontics, orthodontics and oral surgery.”
“Dental students as well as faculty were thrilled to have interactive Q/A sessions,” Dr. Gehani said. “They were eager to learn about more advanced technology, materials and proper interdisciplinary diagnosis and treatment planning.”
Navigating Travel Challenges
The team encountered sudden travel disruptions when regional conflict closed airspace in the Middle East and canceled international flights. Dr. Gehani and her husband rerouted through Mumbai to secure replacement tickets home via London. They returned to New York following an extended stay in New Delhi.
Dr. Gehani noted that flexibility and local coordination remain essential for clinicians planning international humanitarian outreach:
“My advice to other Fellows is to be prepared for any adverse situation and challenges when you travel abroad, even if the weather may not cooperate. Try to collaborate with local contacts before leaving, and if possible have someone to speak in their local language so people can understand. Make some colorful pamphlets for oral disease, and if possible, in the local language. Be courteous, patient and respectful of others and their cultures. I really wanted to make this project possible and help poor people in underserved communities who cannot afford dental treatment. Overall, we really enjoyed serving.”
The joint initiative marked a significant milestone in collaboration between Section I and Section VI, establishing working relationships between visiting clinicians and local dental faculty to support oral health education and community outreach in the region.
Invest in the Legacy of Impact
The College is proud to support dedicated Fellows like Dr. Gehani through Global Visionary Fund programming. Humanitarian outreach of this scale relies on direct contributions from individual Fellows and industry partners to share the commitment toward advancing global oral health equity. To sustain assistance for initiatives like these, the College is advancing its Building a Legacy of Impact Campaign. The Global Visionary Fund programming remains a primary focus of this campaign, securing resources to support and advocate for advancements in oral health globally, especially in underserved communities.
