Speaker: Eric Knudsen
What is your name and how long have you been a Donated Dental volunteer?
Eric Knudsen: Hello, my name is Eric Knutsson. I'm the current MD A president and I have been a donated dental volunteer for roughly 20 years. It started back when uh doctor John Bucker was president and he'd come to the up uh with his uh visit, the presidential visit and he started talking about the donated dental services. And so we, we signed up for it at that point. Both my wife and, and myself are, are volunteers.
How did the MDA Donated Dental staff support you during your volunteer experience?
Eric Knudsen: The MB A donated dental staff was very supportive. They screen the patients ahead of time. They arrange for, uh if you, you're gonna require lab work, they'll arrange for a lab that can do the work for you and just any supplies are needed. A matter of fact, even the, the patients got a, a free electric toothbrush at the end as well. So it was, it was very easy and, and seamless and, and the, the staff helped a lot.
What do you or your staff enjoy most about being a Donated Dental volunteer?
Eric Knudsen: I think being able to provide the care in your own office is one of the easiest things about donating to dental. Uh, rather than going to a separate clinic, you have your own equipment, you have your own supplies. It just makes it easier using your own assistance. And I think you just provide a higher level of care.
Why should your dental colleagues volunteer for Donated Dental?
Eric Knudsen: I think our colleagues would really enjoy volunteering for donated dental. It's one of those things that it's easy to do. It's very rewarding. Uh Matter of fact, you even get ce credit for it on there with it. But it's just, it's just a very rewarding experience and, and to me it's been over 20 years, I've been doing it and I, I will continue till I stop practicing.
What is your favorite Donated Dental patient story?
Eric Knudsen: One of my favorite, uh, patient stories with donated dental is a lady, uh, Kathleen that, that, uh, comes from roughly about an hour away from, from Escanaba. And every time I see her, her name on the schedule, it brings a smile to my face. She, she comes in, she's just high energy. She, we were able to provide some dentistry that she just couldn't afford at that time in her life. And we're still seeing her 10 years later after doing that. And it's just one of those things very rewarding.
