TAMPA, Fla. — A Bay Area couple is making sure that good dental care is available to everyone.
- Robert and Janet Ettleman are this week's Everyday Hero
- Couple started Gulf Coast Dental Outreach
- Nonprofit provides low-cost, full-service dental care
- Meet more Everyday Heroes
- Want to nominate an Everyday Hero? Email us
Doctor Robert Ettleman has practiced dentistry for over twenty years, until eleven years ago when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease — a nervous system disorder that primarily affects bodily movement.
His career as a practicing Dentist was over, but throwing in the towel was never an option. So he ran an idea past his wife Janet.
"He came and he said, 'I have an idea. I don't think you're going to go for it but let me tell you.' And Gulf Coast Dental Outreach was born," she recalled.
Gulf Coast Dental Outreach is a nonprofit full-service dental facility offering low-cost care to low-income adults.
"We have volunteer dentists. We have sixty volunteer dentists that come through our practice, plus we have a network of about 25 specialists," Janet said.
Three Friday's a month, the outreach welcomes patients, lots of them.
Janet said this gives Robert the chance to do Dentistry through the hands of others.