People Doing Cool Things: Dr. Mark’s Moving his Full Dental Clinic to Holy Cross School

I’ve been going to Dr. Mark for almost 19 years…since I first remembered that I should go to the dentist in Belize. Back then, his clinic, about three miles north of the bridge, felt like a trip to another country. There was no paved road on the north side yet (that happened in 2014), so a dental appointment meant heading to town, waiting for the island ferry, riding up the coast. Basically, I planned my whole day around a cleaning. (I wrote about the journey and the office in 2014)

Jeff’s mom still fondly recalls getting emergency dental work while she was visiting a few years back. Yes…FONDLY remembers dental work. Dr. Mark and his dental assistant (and wife) Joan are really good.

So, recently, when Mark and Joan sold his Belizean home of over 25 years (I wrote about the sale and the property here, with lots of pictures), I was curious about the super modern dental clinic he had on the property.

Side note: Did you know that Dr Mark and his wife Joan owned the Conch Shell Hotel for years as well? I stayed there in 2012 – in my short-lived series about hotels less than $ 75 USD a night. Look how gorgeous the beach was?!

Dr Mark filled me in…it’s staying on the island but…expanding. And moving to Holy Cross School.

For those who don’t know, Dr. Mark has been running the Smile Clinic at Holy Cross Anglican School for 20 years now (I wrote about it/took pics for the 10th Anniversary in 2016). Volunteer dental teams fly down from the States several times a year…sometimes as many as 50 folks… and during those weeks the kids at Holy Cross and across the island get cleanings, sealants, fillings, extractions, and, just as important, a lesson that the dentist isn’t something to be afraid of. (I didn’t learn that lesson until my early 20s…life-changing!)

Many of these children would otherwise never see a dentist until something hurt. Dr. Mark has made sure that isn’t the case for so many island kids. An amazing gift.

The move is happening right now and should take another few months. I stopped in at Holy Cross to see the progress.

The Holy Cross clinic is getting a serious upgrade. The original space has been torn out and doubled in size…

Dr. Mark already has most of the dental equipment, and thanks to generous donors, over $25K USD has been raised so far. It’s alot…I got some of the details: finishing the plumbing and electrical rough-in, hanging and painting drywall, pouring a two-inch concrete floor so everything sits on one level, tiling, and installing fixtures for a new bathroom and sinks (one that the school office staff can use too).

He also still needs two mobile dental carts, and a digital X-ray system would be a wonderful bonus.

The crew is hoping to finish by the end of the year.

If you’d like to help, you can make a tax-deductible donation through the Holy Cross Education Foundation at www.hcefoundation.org. Just sure to note that it’s for the San Pedro Smile Center at Holy Cross School. Then drop Dr. Mark a quick note at be********@*****il.com with the date and amount so he can make sure it landed in the right place.

And if you’re a dentist, hygienist, or dental assistant thinking about volunteering somewhere that truly needs you (and has a beach nearby), he’d also love to hear from you too.

Before I go…let’s take another look at this gate.