International Access to Care: Beyond Jamaica

The Foundation’s International Access to Care efforts began in earnest in 2016. There are two main goals for this program: 1) to provide the highest quality specialty care to vulnerable populations; and 2) to provide resident AAE members with an enriching clinical experience unlike any they have encountered.

To date, the Foundation has sent teams to Jamaica 16 times, performing more than 500 endodontic procedures. The launch of a new partnership in 2024 has positioned the program for unprecedented growth this year and beyond. The Foundation is excited to announce that, in 2025, five teams will serve in Jamaica, St. Lucia, and Turks & Caicos!

This rate of programmatic expansion is made possible, in large part, by the Foundation’s successful partnership with Great Shape!, Inc., a US-based international humanitarian organization. Great Shape’s operational and logistical excellence makes plugging in this level of specialty care seamless and easy.

Access to care, whether domestic or abroad, raises the profile of our specialty. It educates the public on what is possible and reminds others within dentistry that endodontics is vital.

“This is a worthwhile outreach program not only for the people of Jamaica, a great experience for residents, but also a great demonstration of what we as endodontists do,” says AAE member John T. Dominici, DDS, MS, who volunteered as a mentor in Jamaica in 2024.

Thanks to your support, endodontists are making a tangible impact through International Access to Care. Participating endodontists and residents are giving desperately-needed care to underprivileged patients, saving teeth, and improving the quality of life for many.