Conversations with Gunther Heyder

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gunther Heyder. 

Hi Gunther, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Volunteering has been a part of my family for as long as I can remember. From the small local programs in NE NC to nonprofits in Raleigh, up to dental clinics in East Africa, I have found my passion for giving to grant me a purpose. Hi, I am Gunther Heyder, a dentist based in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, who, in 2014, founded A Reason To Smile (ARTS), a non-profit organization that aims to prevent the spread of dental disease by providing clinical care and education to rural communities and local health care providers in Africa. 

In 2005, while studying in Ghana, I became intrigued by the local Ghanaian people, their traditions, and culture. From that time forward, I became committed to volunteering on the African continent in one capacity or another. While attending UNC Chapel Hill School of Dentistry, I was honored to be able to be part of a project working alongside international doctors in Malawi, operating at the capital hospital and out in remote villages. Upon graduating with my DDS, I was fortunate to continue participating in volunteer trips to other countries in Africa, including Togo and Benin. 

When I returned from these amazing trips, I felt an urge to start a secular dental non-profit that was purely focused on dental care and cultural exchange. 

I am excited and thankful to share that ARTS has now completed 10 trips to 3 different countries, Uganda, Senegal, and Nicaragua. We have been working diligently in collaboration with Ugandan NGOs and are now growing our partnerships with local Dental Schools. Together, in 2023, we will help start a clinic that supports Ugandan dentists, hygienists, local dental students, and staff to provide dental services to the surrounding communities who are in need of care. Our experience tells us that it is possible to develop a high-quality clinic that can affect greater and longer-lasting change than our annual visiting clinic. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As the saying goes, “if it was easy, everyone would do it.” In 2012, being a 27-year-old dental school graduate, I was determined to start a project that could gain traction earlier in my life in hopes that by giving it my lifelong attention, a true difference could be made. My intentions were great, but the world had different plans. In 2014, Ebola hit Senegal when I was present in the country, pushing my trips off to the next year. In 2017, the Nicaraguan government confiscated all of our dental supplies at the airport. In 2020, the Covid pandemic put a stop to our projects for 2 years. Presently in Uganda, there is an outbreak of Ebola, fortunately not affecting the areas we are working in. 

While working internationally, there will always be challenges such as these which attempt to derail your mission. In part by working with local partners, ARTS has met each potential roadblock as an opportunity to learn, grow and adapt while staying true to our mission. 

The bumpy roads in Uganda can be symbolic of the bumpy road ARTS will continue to venture upon to ensure dental care and education reach even the most remote communities. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
ARTS goes to remote regions of the world that others do not choose to go to. We work on the islands of Uganda in Lake Victoria where the HIV rate is in the upper 20%, and the northern desert of Senegal, where temps get well over 100° F. It is not easy to arrive at these locations which means that the access to dental care is obsolete. While it is a rich cultural experience, it is far from a luxurious vacation. Secondly, ARTS is a secular organization which we welcome all from different backgrounds. This brings volunteers from all over the world, further enriching the experiences of both teams of volunteers. 

How do you define success?
As a young dentist who started an international dental non-profit, I would continuously remind myself that even if I helped relieve just ONE person of their dental pain, it would be a success. In 2015, this “success” came true to me and ARTS in the northern region of Senegal. Our first day in the Sahal desert, I treated my first patient while hundreds of children and adults were outside our makeshift clinic, ready to be seen, some for the first time in their lives. 

In North Carolina, the dentist-to-population ration is 1:1200; In Senegal, it is 1:122,000; in Uganda, it is 1:800,000. The largest issue is the access to dental care professionals. Most people in these countries cannot afford dental care nor get to the dental clinics in the remote areas, which are few and far between. 

After seven years, my local partners in Uganda and I believe that the next step is to create a clinic that supports Ugandan dentists, hygienists, local dental students, and staff to provide dental services to the surrounding communities. The budget of this clinic is ~$100,000 USD. With this hefty goal in mind, we are seeking big-hearted committed donors who believe in our cause. 

ARTS has now completed 10 trips and treated over 5000 people and is now embarking on a more sustainable approach through this dental clinic. But I still remind myself before each trip, especially when the logistics start to feel stressful, if I can just help one person with their dental pain, it will be a success. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ARTSmile.org
• Instagram: arts_dental
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/523935157730008/ 

Image Credits
Lauren Cowart Photography