2026 Uganda Outreach Team
Welcome to our 2026 Uganda Outreach Team
On behalf of the Build Your Smile Dental Foundation, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for volunteering your most precious resource, your time. The people you will meet and serve in Uganda will be forever changed by your kindness. Please click the video to listen to a message from our founder and outreach leader, Dr. Izchak Barzilay.
Dr. Izchak Barzilay
Uganda Outreach Clinical Set Up
To help you prepare for the upcoming outreach, we sat down with Reefa McDoom, our Clinical Logistics Manager, to discuss what you can expect during your time in Uganda with us.
Reefa McDoom
Uganda Outreach Supply Packing
During the outreach, you will be called upon to assist with moving supplies. We spoke with Cheryl Ferrer, our Procurement Manager, to explain how this process works and what it takes to prepare everything.
Cheryl Ferrer
Join us as a social media collaborator
We need your help to amplify the incredible stories coming out of our outreach work in Uganda. As a Social Media Collaborator, you play a key role in bringing these moments to the world. To show just how easy and meaningful this role can be, we sat down with our social media specialist, Shariq Baig, who walks you through the simple steps to becoming a BYSDF collaborator. With just a few minutes of your time each day, you can help us spread momentum, inspire others, and shine a light on the lives being transformed.
Shariq Baig
Document your experience
Dr. Angela Wong from British Columbia joined us for the 2024 outreach to Uganda and took the time to document her experience with us.
We are always looking for content to share with our community and the general public. Please consider documenting your mission experience and sharing it with us.
- Make time each day to journal
- Take plenty of photos
- Shot and narrate videos to capture your experience quickly
- Save your data to a shareable drive
- Share your data link with Chris – chris@buildyoursmile.org
Meet our 2026 Uganda Outreach Volunteers
Dr. Izchak Barzilay
A renowned prosthodontist and the CEO of Build Your Smile Dental Foundation. He is also the Head of the Division of Prosthodontics and Restorative Dentistry at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Ontario.
He has served in leadership positions in multiple dental organizations and has extensive experience in prosthodontics and implant dentistry.
This is his 12 year travelling to Uganda to support dental efforts and is dedicated to advancing dental education and care.
Why go to Uganda?
Dr. Carlo Ecoli
2026 Outreach Lead
General Dentist
Dr. Carlo Ercoli is Professor and Chair of Prosthodontics at the University of Rochester’s Eastman Institute for Oral Health, where he also directs the Center of Excellence for Digital Dentistry. Trained in Italy and the United States,
A respected leader in his field, Dr. Ercoli has served in numerous national and international roles. He is a diplomate of both the American Board of Prosthodontics and the American Board of Periodontology and lectures worldwide on implant dentistry.
Dr. Kuldeep Sandhu
2026 Volunteer Lead
General Dentist
Dr. Sandhu completed his Bachelor of Dental Surgery with Distinction from Mangalore University, India in 1997. He practiced as a General Dentist in India for three years before immigrating to Canada in August 1999.
He completed his Doctor of Dental Surgery from University of Western in 2003. Since then, Kuldeep has been serving the Quinte area of Ontario as a General Dentist and is directly involved in the BYSDF Dental Day each year.
Karlyn Madrid
Support
“I work alongside Dr. Kuldeep Sandhu at Picton Dental Centre and am passionate about providing dental care to underserved communities. I’m honoured to return to Uganda as a 2026 volunteer with the Build Your Smile Dental Foundation, following my first volunteer experience in January 2025. I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue supporting access to compassionate, high-quality dental care through global outreach, in addition to my local volunteer work, including Picton Dental Centre’s annual Free Dental Day.”
Phil Brisebois
CDT Lab Technician
Accomplished leader and innovator in digital dentistry, specializing in digital implant dentistry and digital smile design. Proven 25 year track record as the Founder and CEO of successful dental enterprises. Extensive experience in integrating digital workflows, advanced implant planning, and providing education for Oral Surgeons, Periodontists, Prosthodontists and Dental Laboratories. Expertise lies in leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver exceptional patient outcomes and drive practice growth.
Dr. Tina Tavakoli
Dentist
Dr. Tina Tavakoli is a Canadian dentist who earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Toronto. She has practiced in Ontario and British Columbia and provides dental care in remote and underserved communities across BC. Known for her gentle and
compassionate approach, she enjoys working with children and anxious patients and has interests in comprehensive care and oral surgery. Dr. Tavakoli is honored to volunteer her skills
to improve oral health in communities with limited access to care.
Cathy Hamm
Registered Dental Hygienist
Cathy Hamm, RDH, is a Canadian Registered Dental Hygienist working in a periodontal specialty practice. She graduated from Niagara College in 1987 and has since completed advanced certification in local anaesthetic techniques through the University of Manitoba and Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Cathy volunteers with the Niagara Health Engagement Network and Quest Community Health Centre. Passionate about supporting oral health care in underserved communities, she is honoured to join the Build Your Smile Dental Foundation mission in Uganda in 2026.
Karen Spiesman
Support
Karen Spiesman is a seasoned volunteer with several different organizations.
She is a retired elementary school teacher and a strong supporter of various charities.
She is also a part-time assistant at Toothcrafters Denture Services.
She is very excited about her upcoming volunteer position with ‘Build Your Smile’ in Uganda.
Mordey Shuhendler,
DD, RDT, FCAD
Mordey Shuhendler is a licensed Denturist who has been actively practicing for the past fifty years. He is also a registered dental technologist and a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Denturism.
He is a former president of the College of Denturists of Ontario as well as chair of various committees that have shaped the scope of practice for the profession.
He is also currently the director of denture care for Nunavut Innovative Health Solutions (NIHS). He is looking forward to his second trip to Uganda to experience the joy of giving back.
Jasmine Seklon
Support
Jasmine is a pre-dental student pursuing a career in dentistry with a strong interest in service and health equity. She is grateful for the opportunity to volunteer with BYSDF and learn alongside providers serving communities with significant barriers to care. Jasmine hopes to deepen her understanding of the patient’s needs and contribute to dentistry that is compassionate and patient-centered.
Emily Skode-Whale
Certified Dental Assistant
My name is Emily Braun, and I’m thrilled to be a first-time volunteer with BYSDF. I have been a Certified Dental Assistant for eight years, all of which I’ve spent assisting Dr. Crocker. I chose to volunteer because I want to make a meaningful impact on individuals who might not otherwise have access to treatment. Having this opportunity in Uganda not only allows me to give back but also fulfills my love for travel and new experiences. Thank you, BYSDF, for making this possible and for welcoming me to the team!
Kelly Qin-Wang
Support
I am a fourth-year dental student at the University of Toronto. As a new clinician, my goal is to build lasting relationships and create meaningful change in the populations I will work with. I also had the privilege to participate in an outreach program in Jamaica, which started my interest in providing care in underserved populations. I am excited to join the BYSDF team and contribute to the changes we can make in Uganda.
Hongyan Liu
Support
Hongyan (Yan) Liu is a fourth-year dental student at the University of Toronto who will be pursuing a specialization in Periodontics at the University at Buffalo. Since participating in his first dental outreach trip to Jamaica last summer, Yan has developed a strong interest in outreach and supporting oral health care in underserved communities. He is excited to join the Build Your Smile Dental Foundation outreach trip to Uganda in 2026.
Dr. Jordan Beyea
Dentist
Dr. Jordan Beyea, originally from Moncton, New Brunswick, earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry while playing varsity football at Acadia University before completing his Doctor of Dental Medicine at Midwestern University in Arizona. He is dual‑licensed in Canada and the United States and began his clinical career in Arizona before relocating to Toronto in 2017. Dr. Beyea is committed to exceptional patient care and ongoing professional growth. He has completed advanced training through Spear Education, the New York Implant Institute, and BioClear, and is currently pursuing fellowship designations with the AAID, AGD, and ICOI.
Dr. Gentiane Valiquette
Periodontist
Gentiane Valiquette is a board-certified periodontist trained in Canada and the United States, including a three-year periodontal residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is recognized for her compassionate, patient-centered approach and commitment to personalized periodontal care.
Dr. Valiquette works in private practice in Montréal and Blainville and serves as a clinical teaching instructor at the Université de Montréal.
Leah Locheed
Registered Dental Hygienist
Leah has been a hygienist for 20 years, registered to practice in British Columbia and Ontario. Early in her career, Leah continued her education by attending the University of Alberta to become certified to administer Local Anaesthetic.
Several years ago, Leah decided to go back to school to study Counselling Psychology and has been working part time with individuals on their struggles within their relationships for close to six years now, never giving up her career as a Dental Hygienist.
Dr. Sandy Crocker
Dentist
Born in Prince Edward Island, Dr. Sandy Crocker learned about caring, honest dentistry from his father who has been a dentist for over 40 years. Dr. Sandy Crocker is a Dalhousie‑trained dentist with advanced hospital, surgical, and conscious‑sedation training, including residencies at Western University and OHSU. He has provided care in remote communities internationally and across Canada, and he remains deeply involved in Kelowna through volunteer dentistry, teaching roles with UBC and Okanagan College, and service on dental boards. Committed to lifelong learning, he continues to pursue his Mastership with the Academy of General Dentistry.
Dr. Omar Elsabbagh
Dentist
Dr. Elsabbagh earned his Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Misr International University in 2015 and his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from McGill University in 2021. He has practiced dentistry in both Egypt and Canada, gaining broad clinical experience across diverse healthcare systems.
He is currently in his second year of prosthodontic residency at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health in Rochester, New York, where he is training in advanced restorative and rehabilitative dental care.
Annie Chu
Denturist
Annie completed her education at the University of Toronto and George Brown College. Annie is passionate about her
work and about building meaningful connections with her patients. She
has worked in private practice in Toronto, Parry Sound, Sudbury, and
internationally in Jamaica and Uganda.
This is Annie’s third trip to Uganda with BYSDF. She has also been actively involved with the Denturist Association of Ontario and the College of Denturists of Ontario,
serving on several committees that help advance the profession.
Our Sponsors
Our work is made possible with the help and generosity of our sponsors.
Below are images of the many volunteers who have helped us create a positive impact in the lives of 1000s.
