“
What
Motivates
Me to Do
What I Do”
Dr. Steve Parrett of Chambersburg
is always looking for new ways to
contribute to his own community
and help people in need.
In addition to being a volunteer for
Dental Lifeline Network’s Donated
Dental Services (DDS), where he treats
patients at no charge, Dr. Parrett and his
staff have recently been involved in an
event sponsored by a local church called
“Diaper Depot.” One Saturday morning
each month from 10:00-noon Dr. Parrett
does free dental screening exams for
families who come in for free diapers, a
hot breakfast, or other items, including
clothing and shoes. Dr. Parrett and his
staff also apply Silver Diamine Fluoride
to any teeth that are decayed and direct
these patients to dental offices in the
community for follow-up care.
The motivation for donating all of this
time and serving others is easy for
Dr. Parrett to explain.
“I think many of us may have an answer
similar to mine…It comes from my
upbringing,” said Dr. Parrett when asked
what motivates him to do what he does
and inspires his volunteerism. “I must
credit my parents, in particular my
mother, with instilling the responsibility
we have to help others when we can.”
Within his own dental practice,
Dr. Parrett never hesitates to help
patients who are in need, regardless
of their ability to pay. He said he does
this because he has been blessed in
having been able to build a premier
practice.
“Outside the practice, we participate in
DDS, a support group called ‘She’s
Somebody’s Daughter’ and the local
monthly event called Diaper Depot.
We encourage return visits and offer
Oral Health Education to help get them
into a healthy dental routine,” he said.
’ To top that off, she prepared for that
day to come and I believe I graduated
with my BS and DDS and less than
$5,000 of student loan debt. Wow! Not
bad for no diploma and no GED,” he said.
“You do not need much more motivation
than that to help whomever you can,
whenever you can…“Thanks, Mom,
for showing me the way!”
For over 30 years, Dr. Parrett has
volunteered to do free dental consults
at the local hospital, and often sees
emergency room patients and admitted
patients with serious dental problems,
usually at no charge.
“I was blessed with many qualities;
intelligence, skills, compassion and, oh
yes - LUCK! Neither of my parents earned
high school diplomas. But, they did
know how to show me something
better, what hard work is and what it
does for you. I will never forget the day
my mother asked me what I wanted to
be. I replied ‘a doctor?’…yes, it was a
question. She said to me, ‘Stevie, you
can be whatever you want to be.
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