Duty of care

When Dr Rahul Pankhaniya graduated as a dentist he was determined to give back, and dedicated himself to doing pro bono work in Tasmania, which he has continued since moving to Perth.

The owner of six practice locations has since become a regular host of ADA DHF Dental Rescue Days.

“Volunteering is a part of my duty of care and my obligation to the profession,” Rahul says. “I like the challenge to motivate my staff towards the direction of giving back. I have found every single one of my staff has wanted to give back. They just need to be pointed in the direction to do it.”

“The experience of holding Dental Rescue Days has been very positive,” he adds. “If I look at hosting them from a business perspective, yes there have been a few cancellations and failure to attend appointments – but from a contribution side, I can say I feel like it has made a huge difference, and my team are well in the giving culture.”

Rahul has also adopted patients from the Dental Rescue Days for pro bono treatment via the ADA DHF Adopt a Patient program (completing full mouth extraction and dentures). He has also treated a Rebuilding Smiles patient via the ADA DHF Rebuilding Smiles program, which offers treatment to people who have been affected by domestic and/or family violence.

“This case was the most rewarding I have ever done,” he recalls. “When I first started seeing this patient, I had to call in female members of the team to discuss things with her because just having a male in the room was a threat to her. Now, six years later, she still comes back to me as a patient. She is a well-organised working
lady who is looking forward to getting some implants.”

In addition to giving back through Dental Rescue Days and other pro bono treatment, Rahul has a long history of volunteerism.

“I have been volunteering with Red Cross since I was 18-years-old – from disaster relief – as well as 16 continuous years of blood donation,” Rahul, who is also the President of the West Australian Indian Dental Association, says.

To other dentists considering volunteering, Rahul says volunteering is an obligation as part of the dental community. “If we are blessed with a skill to make someone’s life better, we should give not only our skills but our spirits to it, so we are genuinely making a difference – not just for financial gains,” he says.

“If a dentist can spare one procedure’s worth of time, money, and effort, towards any charity that they can support, including dental awareness, it will make a difference. I ask all my colleagues to donate one procedure towards helping the needy.”

He adds that he also volunteers to set an example to his two sons. “I want to be the father that I want my kids to be,” he says. “My kids don’t do what I say, they do what I do. Wanting to set that example keeps me going.”

To enquire about volunteering via ADA DHF programs, please contact WA State Coordinator Andrea Paterson, by emailing WA@adadhf.org.au

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