He’s an 85-year-old dentist who’s treated tens of thousands of people in Santa Barbara County. But for decades, he’s been using the profits from his practice to help people in need of dental care around the world.
Dr. James Rolfe set up a clinic that has treated hundreds of thousands of people in Afghanistan. Now, he’s just returned from a new project in the Middle East, providing dental care for some Palestinians.
"I'm just kind of proactive," said Rolfe. "I was just so upset, and I had to go find out what was going on."
Rolfe contacted the United Nations with an offer to help. Because of the still volatile situation in Gaza, he was unable to go there. They arranged for him to help provide dental care in the West Bank area. He flew to the closest airport, in Tel Aviv May 19. The dentist says he had to tell Israeli authorities that he was on a tourist trip and couldn’t bring his dental supplies.
"I wasn't able to take any instruments with me, because the Israelis wouldn't allow me out of the airport if I had anything that could possibly help the Palestinian people. I had to leave everything behind," said Rolfe. "I had four suitcases packed up and ready to go. The United Nations said you can't take anything."
Rolfe said the West Bank isn’t facing the extreme problems people have in Gaza. People are in their homes, and businesses and schools are open. But, he said, with the Israeli government controlling the supply chain, shortages of some items are a problem.
He spent two weeks on the West Bank, providing dental care through a number of hospitals. "They had single dental chairs located in several different hospitals, so I went from one hospital to another, seeing patients," said Rolfe. "They do have some dentists there, and they are functioning, but prices are really high, and its hard to get what (the dental supplies) they need."
The Santa Barbara dentist said that because of the years of tension in the region, many Palestinians have made dental care a low priority. "Everybody was really depressed, and as a result, there was a lot of neglect where people were not just taking care of themselves," said Rolfe.
Rolfe treated dozens of people during his two weeks on the West Bank, but admits he didn't get to treat as many people as he would have liked to. His time was limited.
Will he go back?
"I've already made arrangements to go back to Gaza, which is a different kind of place, as you know," said the dentist. "It's been pretty much completely destroyed, but there's not a way to get in there right now. I have to wait, but I've already been approved (by the U.N.) to go back. I'm putting together equipment. I'll go in through Egypt, so I can take the equipment with me."
This is just the latest international project for the Santa Barbara dentist. Alarmed about the lack of dental care in Afghanistan, more than two decades ago, he went with his equipment and started helping people in the war-torn nation. He founded a nonprofit clinic ,which is still providing care there, treating more than a quarter of a million people during its history.
He's still practicing in Santa Barbara, offering 24-hour emergency dental service. Rolfe uses the profits to subsidize the project in Afghanistan, as well as his trips to the Middle East. Why is the international work important to him?
"It just makes me feel good," said Rolfe.
