The Good DoctorsGiving Back to Others

Less FortunateBy Pamela Palongue

hen Dr. Ron Good needed inspiration to pursue a career inthe medical field, he didn’t have far to look. His father, RobertF. Good was a pediatrician in the South Hills in the days when

house calls were still a common practice. “My father was a greatphysician, but his hours as a physician were long,” says Ron, with latenight house calls and overnight vigils. Ron knew he wanted a career inthe medical field, but wanted to be able to spend more time with hisfamily as well. For him, it seemed that dentistry was a good fit. Hisolder brother, Dr. Bob Good, was already practicing as an orthodontist

and suggested toRon that they couldhave a great timegiving peoplewonderful smiles.Ron returned toschool to obtainspecialty training inorthodontics with amaster's in dentalscience as well asbecoming a boardcertified diplomateof AmericanOrthodontics. The

practice of Good Orthodontics is truly a family enterprise. Their sister,Gina Good Romano is the office manager and Ron’s wife Carole whois a dental hygienist works in the office also.

Ron sees himself as truly blessed and appreciates the life that he nowenjoys. “Pleasant Hills is a great place to raise a family. I live in thesame house that I grew up in and my twin sons attend the same highschool I went to.” His sons, Zack and Luke were born weighing lessthan 2 lbs. each and spent three months in a neonatal intensive careunit, a miracle in itself. “I have great, normal kids and I have the bestjob in the world because I get to make people smile.” He describes hisparents, brother, sister and wife as being the real heroes of his life. “Mywife is simply the best human God ever made. She’s the kindestperson I’ve ever met,” Ron says of his wife Carole. She is involved ingiving back to the community as well. Every Friday at 6:30 a.m., Caroleleads a group of young people for weekly inspiration at St. ThomasA’Becket Church. The kids gather for prayer and spiritual reflectionwhile enjoying doughnuts and camaraderie.

With so many wonderful blessings in Ron’s life, it was an easy decisionto give something back to others less fortunate. Ron’s older brother

Bob was going onmissions to thirdworld countries tohelp administerdental care to theindigenous peoplethere. “My brotheractually thought ofthe idea of doingthis,” says Ron whohas joined in to helpby making trips tothe DominicanRepublic and Haiti,sponsored by organizations called Meeting God in Missions andLaCroix New Testament Mission.

His latest trip to Haiti in Oct. 2011 was a life-changing event. “Still, twoyears after the earthquake, they are struggling to rebuild, but thepeople do not complain. “They are very stoic and grateful for the helpthey receive,”says Ron. After he and his brother Bob and theircolleagues Drs. David Shoaf and Mike Hladio arrived at the airport,they passed through what’s called “Tent City” where refugees from theearthquake live in poverty and squalor. After reaching their destinationin a mountain village, they set up their make-shift dental practice,sometimes administering care to patients under a shade tree outside.Many of the people in this remote location had never received any typeof dental or health care and had never seen white people before,whom they call ‘blanc,’ the French word for ‘white.’

The people would wait in long lines to see the doctors and on the lastday of their weeklong visit they saw over 50 patients in just one day!The doctors had worked all day and yet were faced with the heart-breaking task of having to turn people away who would not be seen.

W

20 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | West Jefferson Hills

West Jefferson Hills | Winter 2011 | incommunitymagazines.com 21

CCoonnttaacctt uuss aatt

772244..994422..00994400

IN Community Magazines:

With ads starting at less than per household, local businessesagree that direct mail remains the most cost-effective method of advertising.

Find out how our 36 direct-mailed, community-sponsored, quarterly magazines can grow your business.

“We were not equipped to restore teeth in this remote area, andcare was focused more on managing infection to alleviate pain,”notes Ron. Hopefully in the future, with better access to dentalcare, people will be able to save more of their teeth.

“My brother, who had been there years before, was remembered by one of the local [villagers]. They rememberedthat he liked grapefruit, so every night they brought us fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice because they were so gratefulfor the help,” says Ron.

Ron was touched when after sitting down on a bench to rest, afive-year-old little girl came and sat next to him. Within a fewmoments, she leaned over and put her arm around him as hermother stood close by, smiling. She had been told by her motherhow the doctors were there to help them.

Ron is quick to point out that many people have contributedmoney, time and medical supplies to make these missions ofmercy possible. Although no one can accomplish miracles bythemselves, when all the community works together great thingscan be accomplished for others.

If you would like to help these desperately poor people receivedental and medical care, you may visit the website of MeetingGod in Missions, www.meetinggodinmissions.com or Friends ofHaiti, www.friendsofhaiti-gb.com, or you may contact Dr. RonGood at Good Orthodontics at 724.225.1114.