Dr. Arash Hakhamian has been volunteering in Guatemala for many years and is proud to be one of the amazing dentists who returns year after year to assist in providing life altering service to the Guatemalan people. Dr. Arash and this organization are committed to serving the poor of Guatemala through an integrated approach, striving to reach those in greatest need and emphasizing continuity of care in the context of short-term missions. Each year, more than 1,300 U.S. and international medical professionals and support personnel travel to Guatemala as volunteers with Faith In Practice, generously giving their time, energy and resources to provide desperately needed medical care to the poorest areas of Guatemala.
Around 1,000 Guatemalan volunteers work to connect the Faith In Practice teams with areas of the greatest need and assist patients in getting to and from the team medical clinics. Through the commitment of these volunteers, Faith In Practice teams see more than 25,000 patients annually. For the past 14 consecutive years, Faith In Practice has been awarded Four Stars by Charity Navigator, a distinction that highlights the efficiency, transparency, integrity, and compassion of the organization.
Dr. Arash returns yearly with this group and has served as a dental consultant to the organization on increasing quality of care, infection control, sterilization of insturments and access to care. Dr. Arash has also donated tens of thousands of dollars worth of instruments and equipment to the organization in order to ensure the Guatemalan patients are treated with the same quality of care as patients in the United States.
Dr. Arash states ” I believe that most people think that it is me going to the Guatemelan people to help them when in reality I am the one who recieveds most of the benefits from the Guatemalan people, both emotionally and spiritually. The guatemalan people are some of the kindest, most humble and genuine people I have ever met and each mission leaves me with a renewed sense of energy, humility and passion for making the most of each and every moment I have been blessed with.”
Dr. Arash is not alone in his philanthropic endeavors in Guatemala. Dr. Arash’s mother and father who are both retired from the medical and dental professional fields also travel to Guatemala and serve the poor and needy alongside other doctors and volunteers. “My parents have always been active volunteers and continue to inspire my siblings and I through their selfless sacrifice and contribution to society. I am so so proud to follow in their footsteps and will continue to strive to fill their shoes as I advance in my professional career.”