Dental Sound Bytes

Dr. David Ciesla has found joy in responding to the Lord’s call into academic dentistry, and the fruit has stretched all the way to Uganda! As a faculty member at the University of Oklahoma, he created a pediatric dental residency program at OU School of Dentistry and is working to duplicate his efforts in Kampala, Uganda.

Dr. Bill Claytor, recipient of the American Dental Association’s 2025 Distinguished Service Award, speaks on the critical topics of perfectionism, isolation and burnout in dentistry.

Longtime CMDA members Dr. William Kane and Dr. T. Bob Davis  were recently honored by the two most prominent US dental organizations, the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry with their respective humanitarian awards in 2025. Out of over 200,000 active dentists in the US, it’s truly amazing that both of these award winners are a part of our CDA membership.  Their common goal is to honor Christ through the dental profession, and the Lord has greatly blessed their efforts in multiple areas of personal and professional ministry.

Dr. Mark Topazian joins host Dr. Bill Griffin and co-host Dr. Mike Chupp for a conversation on finding joy, faith, and fulfillment in medicine. A world-class gastroenterologist who has taught and practiced at Yale University and the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Topazian now serves with his wife, Janet, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as missionaries with SIM. Drawing from his new book, Healing Purpose: Finding Satisfaction in a Healthcare Career, Dr. Topazian explores what happens when our calling to help others meets the realities of exhaustion and spiritual fatigue, and how God’s presence transforms even the hardest days of clinical work. Through stories from academic medicine and mission service, he reveals how faith and science form one unified story of healing, and how practicing whole-person care renews both the patient and the provider. Whether you’re a student, a practitioner, or a weary soul in need of renewal, this episode will remind you that your daily work is sacred and filled with purpose.

Dr. Andre Mickel joins Dr. Mike Chupp and Dr. Bill Griffin for a conversation about what it means to boldly follow Jesus in one of the most secular corners of healthcare: academia.

What inspires Christian dental professionals to see dentistry as a means to the greater end of proclaiming Christ, and how can this be accomplished faithfully and powerfully? Hear from four dental professionals who recognize the transformative power of the Gospel, both for themselves and for those they serve.

Dr. Warren Rich reluctantly answered the call to dental missionary service in Kenya, and the Lord rewarded him with 25 years of joy-filled memories.  Enjoy this recording of our first plenary session from the 2025 Great Commission Dental Conference, including the introduction given by his daughter, Elise.

Dr. Herb Gorin and dental student, Nick Greene, had a blast learning from each other and serving the dentally needy in Rwanda on a recent Global Health Outreach mission trip. The nineteen-person team treated over 2,100 patients during the five days of treatment.  It was a tremendous week on several levels – clinically, spiritually, and interpersonally.  Their story illustrates how God can use healthcare professionals at any stage of their careers.

It’s never too late to pursue your dreams as illustrated by Dr. Amber Thomas’ recent graduation from dental school.  She had about 10 years on her classmates along with a husband and three children, yet she still found time to be an active member and officer in her CMDA student group.  What she discovered was that her dream was God’s calling, and His grace was sufficient to see her through.