Gabe Rich ‘78., D.D.S., Leads Dental Students from UNC Chapel Hill to Moldova for a Transformative Global Health Exchange

Gabe Rich ‘78, D.D.S., has dedicated his entire professional life to caring for his patients, beginning with his work as a public health dentist in Florida more than 40 years ago. Rich formally retired in 2021. However, his commitment to providing outstanding care, particularly to less advantaged communities, remains as strong as ever. He is now dedicating his time to help train the next generation of caring professionals to succeed him.

Dr. Rich serves as an adjunct professor at the University of North Carolina’s Adams School of Dentistry. He recently returned from a two-week trip to Moldova, where he led a group of five students taking part in a cultural and professional exchange that is part of UNC’s short-term experience in global health. During their first week abroad, the students explored the Moldovan capital of Chișinău and hosted multiple oral health education programs, including at a public school, a community center and an after-school site. They spent their second week abroad caring for patients in rural areas of the country and collaborating with students and faculty members from Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy.

“The students grew not just as professionals, but as human beings,” Dr. Rich said. “They stepped out of their comfort zones and, as they did, they discovered that our commonalities are greater than any of our differences.”

As is the case in the United States, it becomes increasingly difficult to access dental care in Moldova the further you move from urban or suburban areas into more rural ones. Given the tremendous need, the students Dr. Rich was mentoring learned to be strategic and forward-thinking in treating their patients, adapting to their new surroundings and to the communication challenges that sometimes arose. The students formed a bond with their peers from Nicolae Testemitanu State University centered on their common commitment to their patients.

In addition to his work at UNC, Dr. Rich has been active in Rotary International’s efforts to promote dental health around the world. Giving back to the community, both locally and globally, has been one of his imperatives since he graduated from Le Moyne nearly 50 years ago, and it is something that he is proud to share with emerging professionals in his field. 

I hope we impressed upon the students the importance of giving back. It is truly one of the most valuable uses of your time.”