Dr. Carlisle, Clinical Director of Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU Health) loves working with his hands. After operating his own dentistry practice at Riverside for 13 years and being in the industry for over two decades, he decided to up-level his career even further and get into dental education. Consequently, his journey with WesternU Health began at the height of the pandemic in 2020 and has been a fun ride ever since.
“When I transitioned from my practice into education, I saw a need. I thought ‘what else can I do for the industry?’ That’s when I got attracted to dental education,” Dr. Carlisle says. We Care Dental is under the umbrella corporation of Western University of Health Sciences and focuses on a humanistic approach that abides by two important concepts: patient care and education.
One of the most extraordinary things about We Care Dental is that it’s not just a name… it encompasses the entire legacy at WesternU Health. While their mission is to provide quality care to those with special needs and others who might not have access to dental services, they take pride in supporting their community.
In 2009, We Care Dental was founded by Marianne and Russel Benson as a non-profit organization to treat patients with special needs. Their compassionate nature and sincere desire to service the community allowed them to offer dental care through a variety of donated services including time, supplies, instruments and materials. By 2011, they expanded their offices and partnered with a public benefit charity called Desert Friends of the Developmentally Disabled. Over time, a need for expansion continued.
In 2016, We Care Dental transitioned from non-profit status to partnering with Western University of Health Sciences in order to better serve the local community in Rancho Mirage and offer third and fourth year resident students further education, expertise and knowledge in the industry at the same time.
“There are trade-offs with this approach,” Dr. Carlisle mentioned. “The dental services might take a bit longer because the residents are not as experienced, however they are being supervised by long-term dentists and patients are still receiving excellent dental care. They receive extraordinary care at affordable rates. That’s what makes We Care Dental unique.” With state-of-the-art equipment, affordable rates and award- winning, nationally recognized doctors and faculty, We Care Dental patients receive the very best when they come for a visit. Their questions are heard and answered, and the team makes it their mission to help patients open up and connect with them on a personal level so their dental appointments are not nerve-wracking.
“Our team at We Care Dental is phenomenal,” Dr. Carlisle declares. “They’re really awesome and are super experienced. It’s a very positive atmosphere to walk into, especially when our patients are coming in, not knowing what to expect. I understand that it may not be fun to visit a dentist, but our team is very welcoming and compassionate to the patient’s needs. They make a trip to the dentist feel very enjoyable.”
