From Passion to Purpose: Dr. Worrell’s Commitment to Service and Volunteerism

By Dr. Dentonio Worrell

A military career is not for everyone, but it was definitely the right path for me and my family. November 8, 2025, marks 29 years since I signed the dotted line and intrepidly embarked on a journey that I did not know at the time would span 3 decades, 3 continents, 40 countries, hundreds of cities, tons of adventures- sky diving, rappelling out of helicopters, obstacle courses, The Nijmegen Walk of the World, Army ten-miler, Bataan Death March and the saving of teeth all over the world. Admittedly…I’m still having fun! I grew up on the beautiful little island of Barbados centered in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. I began my Army career shortly after leaving there when I signed up for the Army Reserves while attending the State University of New York at Stony Brook. It feels full circle that I am ending my career on a larger, yet equally beautiful island in the Pacific. My military career has exceeded my wildest imaginations. It paid for Dental school and residency training and the board certification process. It afforded me the ability to practice dentistry without the factor of finances coming into play for my patients. I have the privilege of working on the absolute best patients in the world who rarely complain and are always grateful to be in the chair. Each day I get to work on America’s sons and daughters and my colleagues and I and all who serve and have served take tremendous pride in that. For most of us, it is more than a job or profession, it is a calling or duty. I came onto Active duty in 2004 during the Global War on Terror and swiftly deployed to answer the call during Operation Iraqi Freedom from October 2005 to October 2006. It was a watershed moment and life-changing experience in every aspect of the world. Spiritually, I learned to walk by faith under the daily, constant threat of death from rocket propelled grenades aimed at our camp. Professionally I grew because I was faced with all manner of dental trauma from combat…but also from boredom- Soldiers will Soldier during down times and come up with ‘creative ways’ to entertain themselves that often led to dental visits. The procedure I am most proud of in my career was a pulpal debridement that I performed as a Battalion Commander who rolled into our camp in an Abrams tank at 3 am because he was in intense pain that was affecting his combat readiness and effectiveness. He was so thankful and appreciative afterwards that he presented me with his coin, the first of my career at the time. I honed negotiation skills and how to barter…some of the best steaks I have ever eaten in my life were in Iraq because I gave cleanings to cooks. I earned an honorary Veterinary degree from the Vets because of my assistance in performing root canals on their military working dogs.

Mentally, I gained the patience of Job and a resilience and grit that serves me to this day. Emotionally I grew because my girlfriend at the time sent me a ‘Dear John’ letter in the middle of the deployment that also caused me to grow physically because lifting weights and running was my therapy- I can laugh now. While in Iraq as a general Dentist little did, I know my Endo journey was beginning. Another Dentist told me to go visit his uncle when I returned to the US. His Uncle was Dr. Fred Sykes, a board-certified retired Army Colonel and former AAE District Director of South Carolina. I called Dr. Sykes when I returned, and he and his wife Corliss rolled out the red carpet- endo style for my new girlfriend (now wife) and I. He pulled out the carousel slide projector (millennials Google it) and showed me his thirty- yes, I said 30 board cases. Keep that in mind when you complain about the current 5 case requirements. There are no excuses not to get boarded. Dr. Sykes was passionate and enthusiastic not only about Endo but also about life and it confirmed what God had already showed me was the path I needed to pursue.

Dr. Kimberly Lindsey, another board-certified Endodontist and retired Colonel was an early mentor who helped me to setup an externship at the Fort Bragg Endodontic Residency where COL (Ret) Pete Mines and COL (Ret) Alfred Anderson later accepted me into the program and trained me. Dr. Mines often spoke about Dr. Gary Hartwell, another veteran and retired Army Colonel who was a former program Director and 2024 AAE President’s Award recipient. They brainwashed our entire class into getting board certified as quickly as possible with the last resident getting boarded being current ABE Director Dr. Joe Dutner. I was super excited when I received my recent board certification recertification certificate to see it signed not only by my classmate but also by Dr. Garry Myers who is a former AAE president, an Air Force veteran and the current program director at VCU Endo. Dr. Myers and I met in 2019 when I completed the AAE Leader Development program where he volunteered his time to help mentor the next generation of Endodontists. My recommendation letter for the program was written by Dr. Clara Spatafore another former AAE President and then the program director at VCU. She is also a Navy veteran whom I first met in 2010 when she volunteered her time to come lecture at my Endodontic residency at Fort Bragg in NC. We reconnected in 2018 when I was stationed at Fort Lee, VA and volunteered my time teaching Endo in the undergrad department at VCU. With volunteerism, everything comes full circle. Two other examples of this I have are Dr. Maria Maranga who while not a veteran lives a life of service. She also volunteered as a mentor in the 2019 LDP class and it turns out she was good friends with my very first formal mentor from college, Ms. Jovanna Little who I met in 1998. The final example is another veteran Dr. Rodney Scott who was volunteering his time as chair of the Practice Affairs Committee in 2020 when I first volunteered with the committee. Dr. Scott is a Naval Officer with over 20 years of service. I recently found an old JOE article circa 2011 where we were both featured on the same page. He was featured in a spotlight on the Naval Residency. I was featured for doing a tandem skydive with the JOE.

I am eternally grateful for the opportunities serving the military and Specializing in Endodontics has brought to me. I like to say that most people work to make money to live a life of adventure. For those of us who serve, our lives are adventure. Almost a decade of my career has been spent in leadership where I was the Commander in charge of dental organizations or as we call them Dental activities in Belgium, Virginia, Hawaii and in charge of a Dental Field Unit in Washington state. Every location and assignment was unique and challenging but facilitated my growth and helped me to develop leadership and other skills beyond Dentistry. During the Pandemic while in the field unit we deployed teams of Dentists and Dental assistants to the middle east, one of whom is Dr. Adam Pink, another veteran who upon completing his military payback went into civilian Endodontic residency and will graduate this summer from VCU. We also were tasked as a unit to take on the mission of Covid testing the 50,000-person community around Joint Base Lewis McChord in the state of Washington.

Here in Hawaii as I enter the twilight of my career, I am still volunteering. Special Olympics is big over here and through Operation Special Smiles I have met two other board-certified Endodontists- Dr. Rachel Yorita who is president of the chapter here in Oahu and Dr. Carol Weber a retired Navy veteran. I also volunteer with Mentorships in Dentistry Inc. (MIND) an organization focused on mentoring and developing a dental workforce that is reflective of the US population. Within the Army I am now involved in education working with residents in our 2-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program in Hawaii. One of the great things about a military career is the flexibility to work in different modalities. You can teach General Dentists or Endodontic residents or take on administrative roles or staff jobs. You can also be a straight clinician. You can work in a traditional dental clinic or a field clinic. You can also venture completely out of Dentistry into medical administrative roles or Command positions. Another plus is that I have met and made friends from all over the country and all over the world. One of my daughter’s best friends is Estonian whom she met when they went to school together in Belgium. The military lifestyle is definitely a life lesson ordinary that is not for everyone but for my family and I it has been an absolute blast.

Salute to all the veterans of the AAE who have served the Nation one tooth at a time. –Dentonio Worrell