CDCI obtained 501 (c) 3, non-profit status, on August 24, 2005. Since then, dentists and dental students have made annual trips to the Dominican Republic and another trip to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. CDCI recently installed a permanent dental clinic in the village of Sabana Yegua, Dominican Republic where a volunteer local dentist now provides dental care to those in need ½ day per week. Annual trips by CDCI volunteers continue with the next trip planned for December of 2009.

CDCI missions consist of five to fourteen people. Teams are diverse and are made up of dentists, dental students, dental hygienists and assistants. These trips continue to grow not only in the number of people that participate, but also in the number of people served! We have found that once a person volunteers with CDCI, they keep coming back year after year. Support has been overwhelming and the number of patients being served is growing exponentially. CDCI’s strategic plan calls for expansion of services as funds become available, not only in the Dominican Republic but other sites around the world.

Dr. Toni Roucka Dr. Toni Roucka is a 1990 graduate of The University of Illinois College of Dentistry. Her undergraduate work was in Nursing where Dr. Roucka received her RN in 1982 from The College of DuPage. Upon graduation from Dental School, Dr. Roucka served three years in the U.S. Navy, stationed at Glenview Naval Air Station, Glenview, Illinois. From there Dr. Roucka has spent most of her career in public health. She helped found the Spang Center for Oral Health, the first clinic dedicated exclusively to the treatment of HIV positive individuals. She is a co-founder of Compassionate Dental Care International. In 2007, Dr. Roucka received her MA in Population Health / Bioethics from the Medical College of Wisconsin. She is currently a Comprehensive Patient Management Group Leader and Clinical Assistant Professor at Marquette University School of Dentistry. Dr. Roucka has participated in every CDCI mission from the onset of the company as well as many other mission trips. Currently, Dr. Roucka is involved in developing a curriculum in Emergency Dental Care and Health Promotion to be used in long-term refugee camps around the world.
Dr. David Paape Dr. David Paape graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2001 with a B.S. in biology, and then to Marquette University School of Dentistry in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he received his D.D.S. in 2006. His interest in dental mission trips started during his freshmen year of dental school when he had the opportunity to travel to Guatemala and treat the underserved children in the slums of Guatemala City. This experience sparked an even deeper passion to continue serving communities in other countries. He subsequently traveled to St. Vincent and the Grenedines and the Dominican Republic as part of CDCI. Each trip is unique in its own way and is personally and professionally rewarding.  In the summer of 2007, David and his wife made the decision to change their pace of life and move to Anchorage, Alaska.  David enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, biking and all the other activities the great wilderness of Alaska has to offer. David looks forward to the next 30 years of practicing dentistry and being part of and growing with CDCI.
Dr. Jeff Jamieson Dr. Jeff Jamieson is a 2002 graduate of St. Norbert College, receiving his B.S. in biology.  He attended Marquette University School of Dentistry (MUSoD) and graduated in 2006 with his D.D.S. degree.  He then completed a one-year General Practice Residency at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois.  He is currently a second-year Orthodontic Resident at the University of Detroit-Mercy.  Following completion of his orthodontic training in 2009, he will receive his M.S. degree and a Certificate in Orthodontics.  He plans on moving back to his hometown of Marquette, Michigan where he will work as an associate with his father, Dr. Scott Jamieson.   Jeff's interest in dental mission trips was sparked during his time in dental school.  He attended his first trip to help provide dental care to the underserved in the Dominican Republic in 2004 during his junior year at MUSoD and eagerly returned in 2005 as well.  He has also made a trip to St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 2006.  Although he is currently very busy with grad school, he is enthusiastically prepared to take part in upcoming trips with CDCI in the very near future!
Dr. Richard Heidemann Dr. Richard Heidemann did his undergraduate work at Nebraska Wesleyan University, where his focus of study was on the reproductive biology of reptiles. His doctorate work was completed at Marquette University School of Dentistry. Dr. Heidemann worked in a private clinic and a public health clinic as well as taught for 2 years at Marquette dental school in the Milwaukee area before returning to his home state of Nebraska where he has opened his private clinic, Albion Family Dental. Rich can often be found enjoying the outdoors, hiking, hunting, fishing, or what ever the weather of Nebraska will permit.
Dr. Michaelangelo Aust Dr. Michaelangelo Aust did his undergraduate course work at Portland State University in Science and his Doctorate at Marquette University School of Dentistry. Dr. Aust currently is employed at a FQHC by Marshfield Clinic in Chippewa Falls, WI, and faculty at A.T.Still University. He believes that a positive member of society should have access to health care. Working with federal grants and funding, as well as working for a non-profit clinic, Dr. Aust treats a wide range of patients from all walks of life. His role on the mission trips is not only to deliver care but to also keep the equipment operational. Dr. Aust is responsible for installing equipment, like dental chairs and compressors, to fixing a generator when it goes down or repairing air and water lines when they break.