Dental mission trip to Ecuador a ‘fulfilling experience’

Dr. Allison Simpson travelled to Ecuador on a dental mission trip back in 2014 when she was in her final year at UM’s dental college.  

It was her first time travelling internationally and she found the experience to be rewarding.  

“I just really enjoyed it all,” said Simpson, who is a dentist in Neepawa, Man. “You’re helping, and also getting to meet new people and make new friends at the same time.”  

Twelve years later, she was back in Ecuador, but this time as an experienced dentist there to help supervise the work of fourth-year students from the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry.  

“I kind of traded roles,” Simpson said. “I was helping the dental students and trying to pass on my knowledge the best I could. It’s kind of cool to see how I was in their shoes in 2014 and now I have all this knowledge to pass on.”  

Simpson was joined on the trip in April by 13 other people, including three fourth-year dental students. One of those students was Allen Kim, who will enter private practice in Winnipeg after Convocation on June 1.  

“You get a good feeling by helping people and contributing to their community,” Kim said.  

'It was very humbling'

The group worked five 11-hour days and completed over 60 cleanings, filled nearly 140 teeth and extracted more than 235 teeth.  

Kim said he learned a lot of tips and techniques from the dentists on the trip. He also said he learned lots about life in Ecuador.  

“It was very humbling. We got to realize that things we have here in Winnipeg we take them for granted, like access to clean drinking water and health-care services,” Kim said.  

Dr. Noriko Boorberg, associate professor and clinical operations director with Clinic Support Services at the UM dental college, led the trip. It was her 18th dental mission trip.

The trip was organized through a Canadian charitable organization called Kindness in Action, which provides free dental services in countries around the world.    

Opening students’ eyes to what life is like in other countries is one reason why Boorberg leads dental mission trips.  

“It changes your perspective about everything – what you eat, what you drink, what you do, how you interact with people, and more importantly, when you meet a patient who is struggling, it gives you that empathy to see beyond, to see into their lives and try to help them in the most meaningful way,” Boorberg said.  

Developing skills for the future

Kim said the trip has inspired him to go on future dental mission trips.  

“It was a very fruitful and fulfilling experience,” Kim said. “I got to help people while developing my skills.”  

Like Simpson, Kim hopes to return to Ecuador one day in a different role – that of the experienced dentist there to help supervise students.