Blake's Dental Volunteer Trip to Costa Rica 2023

Hi everyone!

My name is Blake Sanchez, and I am a Pre-Dental student studying at UC Santa Cruz with goals of becoming a Dentist one day! With a little under a year left before I begin applying for Dental schools across the nation, I am hoping to gain more experience in the field of Dentistry that will provide me with so many valuable teachings, challenges and opportunities to help those who may not have the best access to healthcare. Upon transferring to UC Santa Cruz, I learned about an amazing Volunteer Organization called VIDA (Volunteers Involved in Development Abroad) and took an interest in their Dental Program that takes volunteers on trips to countries across Central America.

This past summer many of you helped me in reaching my goal of traveling to Guatemala for a similar 10-day mission with VIDA, and it was HANDS DOWN one of the BEST experiences of my life!! I was the only dental volunteer that went while the other students were medical volunteers so I got to work one on one with an amazing dentist from Guatemala City. She taught me the basic anatomy of the mouth, the nervous system we'd closely need to know, and common treatments for the patients we would most likely see in our clinic days. I had the chance to remove dental plaque using a scaler on patients, I assisted with fillings, and I even got to extract some baby teeth that had severe decay and poor health which was probably the coolest experience out of my time in the clinics. On top of all this valuable hands on experience I also got to see and explore so many different parts of Guatemala, trying new foods, seeing gorgeous lakes and volcanoes, and meeting so many amazing people with kind hearts!

All that being said, another trip will be taking place for my spring break this upcoming year! This trip will take approximately 15-20 students including myself to Costa Rica starting March 25th, 2023 for a 7-day mission traveling to various rural towns and setting up same-day clinics to perform medical/dental procedures for those with poor access to healthcare.

Volunteers from the VIDA Dental program provide individualized, patient-oriented care, side by side with local dental physicians. Students like myself will develop basic dental techniques, identify anatomic structures, and understand the importance of implementing dental education to promote healthy communities. Going on this trip will teach me so many great things as I'll have the opportunity to diagnose and evaluate patients, perform proper brushing demonstrations to the local children, assist in extractions under the authority of a local licensed dentist, and I'll even get to practice my Spanish some more!

Unfortunately, all of VIDA's programs are run solely by volunteer contributions, and therefore this trip comes with a fee. In order to make this dream a reality, I need your help! The fee for this 7-day mission, including meals, lodging, and in-country transportation, totals to $1,770. VIDA also uses some of this money to help pay for the supplies & equipment we will use to treat our patients which is really cool.(not including roundtrip airfare). Plane tickets to Costa Rica are about $850-$1000 so I am also accounting this into my planned expenses for the trip. As a busy full-time student it has been hard to save excess money for opportunities like these, but I believe that when theres a will, there is a way!

So I am asking for help from my wonderful friends, family, and perhaps even strangers who are willing to help my cause. I know most of us (myself included) have been through a lot recently from this worldwide pandemic mentally, physically and financially. That being said I know some may not be able to donate much or even any at all, but I really just appreciate each one of you who took the time to read this and my cause. This support truly means the world to me, and I would greatly appreciate any donation to help me take part in this wonderful opportunity!

I also started up my own photography business this year, so if donating is not an option for you financially please feel free to pass along my website and contact info for anyone who made need any photography needs! I specialize in portrait, family, action and event photography! I will be using all the money I make from my photography gigs to help save up for this trip, so spreading the word or contracting me for photos would help out a lot!!

Website link: https://blakesanchezphotography.myportfolio.com/work

Thank you all so much, I cannot wait to help serve the communities of Costa Rica and travel to such a biodiverse and beautiful country with the help of all of you!

-Blake