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Dr. David and Janet Campbell
In 2002, the Foundation of the Pierre Fauchard Academy funded a grant of $3500 to the Bay Cliff Health Camp for Children in Big Bay, Michigan, through Section Chair Virginia Merchant’s request. Dr. Donn Kipka, a general dentist in nearby Marquette, and a PFA Fellow, is the volunteer Dental Director for the camp. The dental facility has three treatment rooms and is a well-equipped facility. The Foundation grant enabled Dr. Kipka to purchase a much needed dental unit light and supplies for the dental clinic.
Ms. Pat Theisen, a retired RDH who runs the day-to-day operations of the dental clinic, says she “has never made less, worked harder, or had more fun” in her whole life than she has at Bay Cliff.
Local members of the dental profession support Bay Cliff Health Camp as well. After her hygiene day job, Mary Ehnis, RDH, makes a 74-mile round trip from Marquette twice a week to care for the young campers. Tata Rasmussen, RDH, takes one of her vacation weeks and spends it at Bay Cliff working with campers. These women are also volunteers. In fact, everyone in the dental area is a volunteer, with the exception of the part-time paid manager, Ms. Theisen. But she, too, invests many volunteer hours beyond her salaried time.
At the conclusion of the Children’s Camp, for which there is no charge to the children, there is a one-week camp at Bay Cliff called “Camp Independence.” Camp Independence provides adults with physical disabilities the opportunity to experience camping activities the rest of us take for granted, again at no charge to the participants. Camp Independence serves 52 adult campers. These campers have such challenges as closed head injuries, stroke, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and muscular dystrophy. Many campers are wheelchair bound, some on oxygen, some use walkers. This facility is usually their only opportunity to enjoy the fresh air, water activities, and a fellowship that a camping experience can offer.
In 2002, two PFA member dentists, Dr. Cheri Newman and Dr. Malcolm David Campbell volunteered their dental skills during the week of Camp Independence. Section Chair Virginia Merchant volunteered her day off from the office to help. Ms. Stephanie Newman, RDH, Ms. Kristy Dorland, RDH, Ms. Tiffany Chimelak, DS3 student at the University of Detroit/Mercy, and the doctors’ spouses, Janet Campbell and Jim Kenyon, also volunteered at the dental clinic.
The charge of the dental group at Camp Independence was simple: to screen campers and schedule them for prophylaxis, restorations, and extractions later in the week. Campers visited the dental cottage between their morning and afternoon activities.
On the first day, upon arrival of the campers, none of the PFA volunteers really knew what to expect. Each camper came to the dental cottage with a different story, yet all smiles.
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This one-week program allowed the PFA volunteers to do dental treatment on well over 50 campers and some staff members.
One of the clinic patients was a wheelchair-bound quadriplegic Central Michigan University student who is completing his degree in Computer Science. He does his written work by spending as much as 15 hours a day at a computer, using a typing stick held between his teeth. Our PFA volunteers repaired the second set of veneers to his front teeth. Each camper has a unique story of challenges to overcome!
PFA is not the only group that volunteers to benefit Bay Cliff Health Camp. One evening during the Camp Independence session, the local Harley-Davidson Chapter from Marquette rolled into camp on their “Hogs.” The campers were delighted to see those bikes. The bikers joined the campers, encouraged them to sit on the bikes, passed out hugs and smiles … and one more thing … passed out a check for $80,000! The local chapter of the Harley Riders has been doing this for many years. And each year their donation to the camp is larger.
Dr. Cheri Newman and student Tiffany Chimelak with patient
Stephanie Newman, RDH, wrote, “Each of us volunteered with the idea of being able to help others. But each of us was helped instead. Little did we know when we first met the campers in wheelchairs and walkers that they would be our teachers. You see, these campers were ‘differently-abled,’ not disabled. Each person we encountered taught us a valuable lesson, something we could take home with us. In these campers we saw strength, where others might see weakness. We saw drive and determination, where others would assume dependence. Yes, it is true that we went there to help their physical well-being by cleaning and restoring their teeth. But they helped our emotional well-being by filling holes in our hearts. They offered us love, friendship, and joy, all the while teaching us a very important lesson: Never take for granted the ability you have. And never assume your ability is limited. I thank YOU, members of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, for the opportunity to be changed, to grow, and to be part of the family of friends that I will never lose.”
Janet Campbell noted, “It truly was an exciting experience for all of us. Because of our involvement, two more dentists have volunteered for next year. Dr. Newman, a PFA member, is returning, as are the chairside assistants and the RDHs. The young woman who was a chairside assistant for Dr. Campbell lived with the Campbells for seven years while she went back to school to take all her prerequisites, then four years of dental school and graduated at age 39. She is going to take a week of her vacation to volunteer there.”
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