"The spirit of HVO and the utilization of volunteers' time and educational skills will be a valuable asset to OUM, and to the healthcare in Samoa," says Dr. Frick, DDS, MS.  Dr. Frick will serve as the program director for this new HVO volunteer opportunity.

HVO's oral health program in Samoa will work to bridge the gap between medicine and dentistry by providing clinical and didactic instruction in advanced oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures.  HVO volunteers will provide support to the faculty at OUM and TTM for an OMS pilot program that introduces the concepts of maxillofacial trauma, oral medicine, oral pathalogy, head and neck infection, post-op care and wound care and reconstructive surgery.  The program will eventually be expanded to include preventative/public health dentistry and the establishment of a cleft palate training program that includes obturator fabrication, nutritional support and surgical care.  Oral surgeons are needed for assignments of two weeks or longer. 

HVO's oral health programs are sponsored by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the American Dental Association.

A private, non-profit membership organization, HVO was founded in 1986 to improve global health through education.  HVO designs and implements clinical education programs in child health, primary care, trauma and rehabilitation, essential surgical care, oral health, blood disorders and cancers, infectious disease, nursing education, and wound care.  In more than 25 resource-poor nations, volunteers train, mentor and provide critical professional support to health care providers who care for the neediest populations in the most difficult of circumstances.  To learn more about volunteering with Health Volunteers Overseas, visit the web site or contact the HVO Program Department at (202) 296-0928.