How much can one American dentist’s participation in a medical mission in Bosnia affect the patients he sees there? Each of the more than 1,000 patients seen by Dean Skuble, D.D.S., a member of the Hinsdale Hospital medical staff, could give a different answer and a nice smile. There are no oral surgeons in Bosnia, so the oral maxillofacial surgery he has performed on a dozen trips since 1999 is much needed and greatly appreciated.

“I was scheduled to go to South America, but a guy from my church asked me to go to Bosnia to work at a clinic that was being built through the Riley Foundation. We did the full scope of oral surgery. When I started, we were giving care to the homeless and orphans of the war-torn country. We saw many of the same children on different trips, but now many orphans have gone to live with other family members elsewhere.

“The work I do in Bosnia is more challenging than what I see in my practice here. Their teeth have been neglected. I’ve removed abscessed six-year molars and given dentures to 10-year-olds.”

But one case has been life changing for both Skuble and his patient. He explains, “When I saw this young girl—with half a face like a 90-year-old and half a beautiful young woman—I dedicated myself to helping her. She had developmental deformities that disfigured her face. She had been to specialists in European capitals, but no one would take her case.”

To help her, Skuble has become politically savvy to work through red tape in Bosnia to obtain a travel visa for the girl and her mother to come to the United States.

“It’s taken a lot of time and effort,” he explains. He’s written letters, brought her case before numerous surgeons, and financed her travel personally. He’s even provided housing for her. This spring she’ll be in the United States for a month for her third surgery in Miami.

“I don’t know anybody in Miami, but this has been a very spiritual experience for me," Skuble said. "I prayed this would go without any glitches, and I have found a doctor to do the surgery, a hospital volunteer to provide housing, and received $5,000 from a Canadian—all people who want to help make this happen.”

“I’ll go over to Bosnia later for her dental surgery,” says Skuble, who noted the clinic now has a Bosnian dentist serving there. He says his work in Bosnia has become a “calling” and plans to return once or twice a year until “I feel I can’t be used anymore.” Skuble notes, “I came to realize that the more you are given, the more you should do.”

Jonathan Leach, Adventist Health System Midwest Region regional executive director of ministries and mission, notes, “Dr. Skuble is one of the many physicians from AHSMR hospitals who gives of his time and resources to bless needy individuals. He exemplifies the Christian core values in our Adventist facilities.”

Lynn Larson, Adventist Health System Midwest Region

Lake Union Herald correspondent